Use of growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) to inhibit oocyte maturation

ABSTRACT

Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) is disclosed along with its polynucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence. Also disclosed is a method for inhibiting oocyte maturation using GDF-9 inhibitors or by inducing an immune response to GDF-9 polypeptide or fragments thereof.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/491,835, filed Oct. 23, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,056 which is a 371 of PCT/US94/00685 filed Jan. 12, 1994, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/003,303, filed Jan. 12, 1993, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to growth factors and specifically to a new member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily, which is denoted, growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) and methods of use as a contraceptive.

2. Description of Related Art

The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily encompasses a group of structurally-related proteins which affect a wide range of differentiation processes during embryonic development. The family includes, Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), which is required for normal male sex development (Behringer, et al., Nature, 345: 167, 1990), Drosophila decapentaplegic (DPP) gene product, which is required for dorsal-ventral axis formation and morphogenesis of the imaginal disks (Padgett, et al., Nature, 325:81-84, 1987), the Xenopus Vg-1 gene product, which localizes to the vegetal pole of eggs ((Weeks, et al., Cell, 51:861-867, 1987), the activins (Mason, et al., Biochem, Biophys. Res. Commun., 135:957-964, 1986), which can induce the formation of mesoderm and anterior structures in Xenopus embryos (Thomsen, et al., Cell, 63:485, 1990), and the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs, osteogenin, OP-1) which can induce de novo cartilage and bone formation (Sampath, et al., J Biol. Chem., 265:13198, 1990). The TGF-βs can influence a variety of differentiation processes, including adipogenesis, myogenesis, chondrogenesis, hematopoiesis, and epithelial cell differentiation (for review, see Massague, Cell 49:437, 1987).

The proteins of the TGF-β family are initially synthesized as a large precursor protein which subsequently undergoes proteolytic cleavage at a cluster of basic residues approximately 110-140 amino acids from the C-terminus. The C-terminal regions of the proteins are all structurally related and the different family members can be classified into distinct subgroups based on the extent of their homology. Although the homologies within particular subgroups range from 70% to 90% amino acid sequence identity, the homologies between subgroups are significantly lower, generally ranging from only 20% to 50%. In each case, the active species appears to be a disulfide-linked dimer of C-terminal fragments. For most of the family members that have been studied, the homodimeric species has been found to be biologically active, but for other family members, like the inhibins (Ling, et al., Nature, 321:779, 1986) and the TGF-βs (Cheifetz, et al., Cell, 48:409, 1987), heterodimers have also been detected, and these appear to have different biological properties than the respective homodimers.

The inhibins and activins were originally purified from follicular fluid and shown to have counteracting effects on the release of follicle-stimulating hormone by the pituitary gland. Although the mRNAs for all three inhibin/activin subunits (a, βA and βB) have been detected in the ovary, none of these appear to be ovary-specific (Meunier, et al., Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. USA, 85:247, 1988). MIS has also been shown to be expressed by granulosa cells and the effects of MIS on ovarian development have been documented both in vivo in transgenic mice expressing MIS ectopically (Behringer, supra) and in vitro in organ culture (Vigier, et al., Development, 100:43, 1987).

Identification of new factors that are tissue-specific in their expression pattern will provide a greater understanding of that tissue's development and function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cell growth and differentiation factor, GDF-9, a polynucleotide sequence which encodes the factor and antibodies which are immunoreactive with the factor. This factor appears to relate to various cell proliferative disorders, especially those involving ovarian tumors, such as granulosa cell tumors. GDF-9 is exclusively expressed in oocytes and plays a role in maturation of oocytes.

Thus, in one embodiment, the invention provides a method for detecting a cell proliferative disorder of ovarian origin and which is associated with GDF-9. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a cell proliferative disorder associated with abnormal levels of expression of GDF-9, by suppressing or enhancing GDF-9 activity.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for inhibiting oocyte maturation. The method includes contacting oocytes with an inhibiting effective amount of an inhibitor of GDF-9, thereby inhibiting oocyte maturation as compared to untreated oocytes. Inhibition of oocyte maturation provides contraception for fertile female subjects. The invention also provides a method for inducing an immune response in a subject to GDF-9 whereby oocyte maturation is inhibited, comprising administering to a subject GDF-9 polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof and inducing an anti-GDF-9 immune response in the subject.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows expression of GDF-9 mRNA in adult tissues.

FIGS. 2a-2c shows nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence of GDF-9 (SEQ ID No:3 and SEQ ID No:4, respectively). Consensus N-glycosylation signals are denoted by plain boxes. The putative tetrabasic processing sites are denoted by stippled boxes. The in-frame termination codons upstream of the putative initiating ATG and the consensus polyadenylation signals are underlined. The poly A tails are not shown. Numbers indicate nucleotide position relative to the 5' end.

FIGS. 3a-3b show the alignment of the C-terminal sequences of GDF-9 with other members of the TGF-β family (SEQ ID No:5-25). The conserved cysteine residues are shaded. Dashes denote gaps introduced in order to maximize alignment.

FIGS. 4a-4b show amino acid homologies among the different members of the TGF-β superfamily. Numbers represent percent amino acid identities between each pair calculated from the first conserved cysteine to the C-terminus. Boxes represent homologies among highly-related members within particular subgroups.

FIGS. 5a-5c show the immunohistochemical localization of GDF-9 protein. Ajdacent sections of an adult ovary were either stained with hematoxylin and eosin (FIG. 5a) or incubated with immune (FIG. 5b) or pre-immune (FIG. 5c) serum at a dilution of 1:500. Anti-GDF-9 antiserum was prepared by expressing the C-terminal portion of murine GDF-9 (residues 308-441) in bacteria, excising GDF-9 protein from preparative SDS gels, and immunizing rabbits. Sites of antibody binding were visualized using the Vectastain ABC kit (Vector Labs).

FIG. 6 shows a comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of murine (top lines) and human (bottom lines) GDF-9(SEQ ID No:4 and SEQ ID No:26, respectively). Numbers represent amino acid positions relative to the N-termini. Vertical lines represent sequence identities. Dots represent gaps introduced in order to maximize the alignment. The clear box shows the predicted proteolytic processing sites. The shaded boxes show the cysteine residues in the mature region of the proteins. The bars at the bottom show a schematic of the pre-(clear) and mature (shaded) regions of GDF-9 with the percent sequence identities between the murine and human sequences shown below.

FIGS. 7a-7d show in situ hybridization to adult ovary sections using a GDF-9 RNA probe. [³⁵ S]-labeled anti-sense (FIGS. 7a and 7c or sense (FIGS. 7b and 7d) GDF-9 RNA probes were hybridized to adjacent paraffin-embedded sections of ovaries fixed in 4% paragormaldehyde. Sections were dipped in photographic emulsion, exposed, developed, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Two representative fields are shown.

FIGS. 8a-8b show in situ hybridization to a postnatal day 4 ovary section using an antisense GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7. Following autoradiography and staining, the section was photographed under bright-field (FIG. 8a) or dark-field (FIG. 8b) illumination.

FIGS. 9a-9b show in situ hybridization to postnatal day 8 ovary sections using an antisense (FIG. 9a) or sense (FIG. 9b) GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7.

FIGS. 10a-10b show in situ hybridization to adult oviduct sections using an antisense (FIG. 10a) or sense (FIG. 10b) GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7.

FIGS. 11a-11b show in situ hybridization to an adult oviduct (0.5 days following fertilization) section using an antisense GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7. Following autoradiography and staining, the section was photographed under bright-field (FIG. 11a) or dark-field (FIG. 11b) illumination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a growth and differentiation factor, GDF-9 and a polynucleotide sequence encoding GDF-9. Unlike other members of the TGF-β superfamily, GDF-9 expression is highly tissue specific, being expressed in cells primarily in ovarian tissue. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for detection of a cell proliferative disorder of the ovary, which is associated with GDF-9 expression. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for treating a cell proliferative disorder associated with abnormal expression of GDF-9 by using an agent which suppresses or enhances GDF-9 activity. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for inhibiting oocyte maturation.

Due to the expression of GDF-9 in the reproductive tract, there are a variety of applications using the polypeptide, polynucleotide and antibodies of the invention, related to contraception, fertility and pregnancy. GDF-9 could play a role in regulation of the menstrual cycle and, therefore, could be useful in various contraceptive regimens.

The TGF-β superfamily consists of multifunctionaly polypeptides that control proliferation, differentiation, and other functions in many cell types. Many of the peptides have regulatory, both positive and negative, effects on other peptide growth factors. The structural homology between the GDF-9 protein of this invention and the members of the TGF-β family, indicates that GDF-9 is a new member of the family of growth and differentiation factors. Based on the known activities of many of the other members, it can be expected that GDF-9 will also possess biological activities that will make it useful as a diagnostic and therapeutic reagent.

For example, another regulatory protein that has been found to have structural homology with TGF-β is inhibin, a specific and potent polypeptide inhibitor of the pituitary secretion of FSH. Inhibin has been isolated from ovarian follicular fluid. Because of its suppression of FSH, inhibin has potential to be used as a contraceptive in both males and females. GDF-9 may possess similar biological activity since it is also an ovarian specific peptide Inhibin has also been shown to be useful as a marker for certain ovarian tumors (Lappohn, et al., N. Engl. J Med., 321:790, 1989). GDF-9 may also be useful as a marker for identifying primary and metastatic neoplasms of ovarian origin. Similarly, GDF-9 may be useful as an indicator of developmental anomalies in prenatal screening procedures.

Another peptide of the TGF-β family is MIS, produced by the testis and responsible for the regression of the Mullerian ducts in the male embryo. MIS has been show to inhibit the growth of human ovarian cancer in nude mice (Donahoe, et al., Ann. Surg., 194:472, 1981). GDF-9 may function similarly and may, therefore, be useful as an anti-cancer agent, such as for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

GDF-9 may also function as a growth stimulatory factor and, therefore, be useful for the survival of various cell populations in vitro. In particular, if GDF-9 plays a role in oocyte maturation, it may be useful in in vitro fertilization procedures, e.g., in enhancing the success rate. Many of the members of the TGF-β family are also important mediators of tissue repair. TGF-β has been shown to have marked effects on the formation of collagen and causes a striking angiogenic response in the newborn mouse (Roberts, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 83:4167, 1986). GDF-9 may also have similar activities and may be useful in repair of tissue injury caused by trauma or burns for example.

The term "substantially pure" as used herein refers to GDF-9 which is substantially free of other proteins, lipids, carbohydrates or other materials with which it is naturally associated. One skilled in the art can purify GDF-9 using standard techniques for protein purification. The substantially pure polypeptide will yield a single major band on a non-reducing polyacrylamide gel. The purity of the GDF-9 polypeptide can also be determined by amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. GDF-9 polypeptide includes functional fragments of the polypeptide, as long as the activity of GDF-9 remains. Smaller peptides containing the biological activity of GDF-9 are included in the invention.

The invention provides polynucleotides encoding the GDF-9 protein. These polynucleotides include DNA, cDNA and RNA sequences which encode GDF-9. It is understood that all polynucleotides encoding all or a portion of GDF-9 are also included herein, as long as they encode a polypeptide with GDF-9 activity. Such polynucleotides include naturally occurring, synthetic, and intentionally manipulated polynucleotides. For example, GDF-9 polynucleotide may be subjected to site-directed mutagenesis. The polynucleotide sequence for GDF-9 also includes antisense sequences. The polynucleotides of the invention include sequences that are degenerate as a result of the genetic code. There are 20 natural amino acids, most of which are specified by more than one codon. Therefore, all degenerate nucleotide sequences are included in the invention as long as the amino acid sequence of GDF-9 polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence is functionally unchanged.

Specifically disclosed herein is a cDNA sequence for GDF-9 which is 1712 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame beginning with a methionine codon at nucleotide 29. The encoded polypeptide is 441 amino acids in length with a molecular weight of about 49.6 kD, as determined by nucleotide sequence analysis. The GDF-9 sequence contains a core of hydrophobic amino acids near the N-terminus, suggestive of a signal sequence for secretion. GDF-9 contains four potential N-glycosylation sites at asparagine residues 163, 229, 258, and 325 and a putative tetrabasic proteolytic processing site (RRRR) (amino acids residues 303-306 of SEQ ID No:4)at amino acids 303-306. The mature C-terminal fragment of GDF-9 is predicted to be 135 amino acids in length and have an unglycosylated molecular weight of about 15.6 kD, as determined by nucleotide sequence analysis. One skilled in the art can modify, or partially or completely remove the glycosyl groups from the GDF-9 protein using standard techniques. Therefore, the functional protein or fragments thereof of the invention includes glycosylated, partially glycosylated and unglycosylated species of GDF-9.

The degree of sequence identity of GDF-9 with known TGF-β family members ranges from a minimum of 21% with Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) to a maximum of 34% with bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4). GDF-9 specifically disclosed herein differs from the known family members in its pattern of cysteine residues in the C-terminal region. GDF-9 lacks the fourth cysteine of the seven cysteines present in other family members; in place of cysteine at this position, the GDF-9 sequence contains a serine residue. This GDF-9 does not contain a seventh cysteine residue elsewhere in the C-terminal region.

Minor modifications of the recombinant GDF-9 primary amino acid sequence may result in proteins which have substantially equivalent activity as compared to the GDF-9 polypeptide described herein. Such modifications may be deliberate, as by site-directed mutagenesis, or may be spontaneous. All of the polypeptides produced by these modifications are included herein as long as the biological activity of GDF-9 still exists. Further, deletion of one or more amino acids can also result in a modification of the structure of the resultant molecule without significantly altering its biological activity. This can lead to the development of a smaller active molecule which would have broader utility. For example, one can remove amino or carboxy terminal amino acids which are not required for GDF-9 biological activity.

The nucleotide sequence encoding the GDF-9 polypeptide of the invention includes the disclosed sequence and conservative variations thereof. The term "conservative variation" as used herein denotes the replacement of an amino acid residue by another, biologically similar residue. Examples of conservative variations include the substitution of one hydrophobic residue such as isoleucine, valine, leucine or methionine for another, or the substitution of one polar residue for another, such as the substitution of arginine for lysine, glutamic for aspartic acids, or glutamine for asparagine, and the like. The term "conservative variation" also includes the use of a substituted amino acid in place of an unsubstituted parent amino acid provided that antibodies raised to the substituted polypeptide also immunoreact with the unsubstituted polypeptide.

DNA sequences of the invention can be obtained by several methods. For example, the DNA can be isolated using hybridization techniques which are well known in the art. These include, but are not limited to: 1) hybridization of genomic or cDNA libraries with probes to detect homologous nucleotide sequences and 2) antibody screening of expression libraries to detect cloned DNA fragments with shared structural features.

Preferably the GDF-9 polynucleotide of the invention is derived from a mammalian organism, and most preferably from a mouse, rat, or human. Screening procedures which rely on nucleic acid hybridization make it possible to isolate any gene sequence from any organism, provided the appropriate probe is available. Oligonucleotide probes, which correspond to a part of the sequence encoding the protein in question, can be synthesized chemically. This requires that short, oligopeptide stretches of amino acid sequence must be known. The DNA sequence encoding the protein can be deduced from the genetic code, however, the degeneracy of the code must be taken into account. It is possible to perform a mixed addition reaction when the sequence is degenerate. This includes a heterogeneous mixture of denatured double-stranded DNA. For such screening, hybridization is preferably performed on either single-stranded DNA or denatured double-stranded DNA. Hybridization is particularly useful in the detection of CDNA clones derived from sources where an extremely low amount of mRNA sequences relating to the polypeptide of interest are present. In other words, by using stringent hybridization conditions directed to avoid non-specific binding, it is possible, for example, to allow the autoradiographic visualization of a specific cDNA clone by the hybridization of the target DNA to that single probe in the mixture which is its complete complement (Wallace, et al., Nucl. Acid Res., 9:879, 1981).

The development of specific DNA sequences encoding GDF-9 can also be obtained by: 1) isolation of double-stranded DNA sequences from the genomic DNA; 2) chemical manufacture of a DNA sequence to provide the necessary codons for the polypeptide of interest; and 3) in vitro synthesis of a double-stranded DNA sequence by reverse transcription of mRNA isolated from a eukaryotic donor cell. In the latter case, a double-stranded DNA complement of mRNA is eventually formed which is generally referred to as cDNA.

Of the three above-noted methods for developing specific DNA sequences for use in recombinant procedures, the isolation of genomic DNA isolates is the least common. This is especially true when it is desirable to obtain the microbial expression of mammalian polypeptides due to the presence of introns.

The synthesis of DNA sequences is frequently the method of choice when the entire sequence of amino acid residues of the desired polypeptide product is known. When the entire sequence of amino acid residues of the desired polypeptide is not known, the direct synthesis of DNA sequences is not possible and the method of choice is the synthesis of cDNA sequences. Among the standard procedures for isolating cDNA sequences of interest is the formation of plasmid- or phage-carrying cDNA libraries which are derived from reverse transcription of mRNA which is abundant in donor cells that have a high level of genetic expression. When used in combination with polymerase chain reaction technology, even rare expression products can be cloned. In those cases where significant portions of the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide are known, the production of labeled single or double-stranded DNA or RNA probe sequences duplicating a sequence putatively present in the target cDNA may be employed in DNA/DNA hybridization procedures which are carried out on cloned copies of the cDNA which have been denatured into a single-stranded form (Jay, et al., Nucl. Acid Res., 11:2325, 1983).

A cDNA expression library, such as lambda gt11, can be screened indirectly for GDF-9 peptides having at least one epitope, using antibodies specific for GDF-9. Such antibodies can be either polyclonally or monoclonally derived and used to detect expression product indicative of the presence of GDF-9 cDNA.

DNA sequences encoding GDF-9 can be expressed in vitro by DNA transfer into a suitable host cell. "Host cells" are cells in which a vector can be propagated and its DNA expressed. The term also includes any progeny of the subject host cell. It is understood that all progeny may not be identical to the parental cell since there may be mutations that occur during replication. However, such progeny are included when the term "host cell" is used. Methods of stable transfer, meaning that the foreign DNA is continuously maintained in the host, are known in the art.

In the present invention, the GDF-9 polynucleotide sequences may be inserted into a recombinant expression vector. The term "recombinant expression vector" refers to a plasmid, virus or other vehicle known in the art that has been manipulated by insertion or incorporation of the GDF-9 genetic sequences. Such expression vectors contain a promoter sequence which facilitates the efficient transcription of the inserted genetic sequence of the host. The expression vector typically contains an origin of replication, a promoter, as well as specific genes which allow phenotypic selection of the transformed cells. Vectors suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to the T7-based expression vector for expression in bacteria (Rosenberg, el al., Gene, 56:125, 1987), the pMSXND expression vector for expression in mammalian cells (Lee and Nathans, J. Biol. Chem., 263:3521, 1988) and baculovirus-derived vectors for expression in insect cells. The DNA segment can be present in the vector operably linked to regulatory elements, for example, a promoter (e.g., T7, metallothionein I, or polyhedrin promoters).

Polynucleotide sequences encoding GDF-9 can be expressed in either prokaryotes or eukaryotes. Hosts can include microbial, yeast, insect and mammalian organisms. Methods of expressing DNA sequences having eukaryotic or viral sequences in prokaryotes are well known in the art. Biologically functional viral and plasmid DNA vectors capable of expression and replication in a host are known in the art. Such vectors are used to incorporate DNA sequences of the invention.

Transformation of a host cell with recombinant DNA may be carried out by conventional techniques as are well known to those skilled in the art. Where the host is prokaryotic, such as E. coli, competent cells which are capable of DNA uptake can be prepared from cells harvested after exponential growth phase and subsequently treated by the CaCl₂ method using procedures well known in the art. Alternatively, MgCl₂ or RbCl can be used. Transformation can also be performed after forming a protoplast of the host cell if desired.

When the host is a eukaryote, such methods of transfection of DNA as calcium phosphate co-precipitates, conventional mechanical procedures such as microinjection, electroporation, insertion of a plasmid encased in liposomes, or virus vectors may be used. Eukaryotic cells can also be cotransforned with DNA sequences encoding the GDF-9 of the invention, and a second foreign DNA molecule encoding a selectable phenotype, such as the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene. Another method is to use a eukaryotic viral vector, such as simian virus 40 (SV40) or bovine papilloma virus, to transiently infect or transform eukaryotic cells and express the protein. (see for example, Eukaryotic Viral Vectors, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Gluzman ed., 1982).

Isolation and purification of microbial expressed polypeptide, or fragments thereof, provided by the invention, may be carried out by conventional means including preparative chromatography and immunological separations involving monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies.

The invention includes antibodies immunoreactive with GDF-9 polypeptide or functional fragments thereof. Antibody which consists essentially of pooled monoclonal antibodies with different epitopic specificities, as well as distinct monoclonal antibody preparations are provided. Monoclonal antibodies are made from antigen containing fragments of the protein by methods well known to those skilled in the art (Kohler, et al., Nature, 256:495, 1975). The term antibody as used in this invention is meant to include intact molecules as well as fragments thereof, such as Fab and F(ab')₂, which are capable of binding an epitopic determinant on GDF-9.

The preparation of polyclonal antibodies is well-known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Green et al., Production of polyclonal Antisera, in IMMUNOCHEMICAL PROTOCOLS (Manson, ed.), pages 1-5 (Humana Press 1992); Coligan et al., Production of Polyclonal Antisera in Rabbits, Rats, Mice and Hamsters, in CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN IMMUNOLOGY, section 2.4.1 (1992), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The preparation of monoclonal antibodies likewise is conventional. See, for example, Kohler & Milstein, Nature 256:495 (1975); Coligan et al., sections 2.5.1-2.6.7; and Harlow et al., ANTIBODIES: A LABORATORY MANUAL, page 726 (Cold Spring Harbor Pub. 1988), which are hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, monoclonal antibodies can be obtained by injecting mice with a composition comprising an antigen, verifying the presence of antibody production by removing a serum sample, removing the spleen to obtain B lymphocytes, fusing the B lymphocytes with myeloma cells to produce hybridomas, cloning the hybridomas, selecting positive clones that produce antibodies to the antigen, and isolating the antibodies from the hybridoma cultures. Monoclonal antibodies can be isolated and purified from hybridoma cultures by a variety of well-established techniques. Such isolation techniques include affinity chromatography with Protein-A Sepharose, size-exclusion chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. See, e.g, Coligan et al., sections 2.7.1-2.7.12 and sections 2.9.1-2.9.3; Barnes et al., Purification of Immunoglobulin G (IgG), in METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, VOL. 10, pages 79-104 (Humana Press 1992).

Methods of in vitro and in vivo multiplication of monoclonal antibodies is well-known to those skilled in the art. Multiplication in vitro may be carried out in suitable culture media such as Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium or RPMI 1640 medium, optionally replenished by a mammalian serum such as fetal calf serum or trace elements and growth-sustaining supplements such as normal mouse peritoneal exudate cells, spleen cells, bone marrow macrophages. Production in vitro provides relatively pure antibody preparations and allows scale-up to yield large amounts of the desired antibodies. Large scale hybridoma cultivation can be carried out by homogenous suspension culture in an airlift reactor, in a continuous stirrer reactor, or in immobilized or entrapped cell culture. Multiplication in vivo may be carried out by injecting cell clones into mammals histocompatible with the parent cells, e.g., osyngeneic mice, to cause growth of antibody-producing tumors. Optionally, the animals are primed with a hydrocarbon, especially oils such as pristane (tetramethylpentadecane) prior to injection. After one to three weeks, the desired monoclonal antibody is recovered from the body fluid of the animal.

Therapeutic applications for antibodies disclosed herein are also part of the present invention. For example, antibodies of the present invention may also be derived from subhuman primate antibody. General techniques for raising therapeutically useful antibodies in baboons can be found, for example, in Goldenberg et al., International Patent Publication WO 91/11465 (1991) and Losman et al., Int. J. Cancer 46:310 (1990), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

A therapeutically useful anti-GDF-9 antibody may be derived from a "humanized" monoclonal antibody. Humanized monoclonal antibodies are produced by transferring mouse complementarity determining regions from heavy and light variable chains of the mouse immunoglobulin into a human variable domain, and then substituting human residues in the framework regions of the murine counterparts. The use of antibody components derived from humanized monoclonal antibodies obviates potential problems associated with the immunogenicity of murine constant regions. General techniques for cloning murine immunoglobulin variable domains are described, for example, by Orlandi et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 86:3833 (1989), which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. Techniques for producing humanized monoclonal antibodies are described, for example, by Jones et al., Nature 321: 522 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science 239: 1534 (1988); Carter et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 89: 4285 (1992); Sandhu, Crit. Rev. Biotech. 12: 437 (1992); and Singer et al., J. Immunol. 150: 2844 (1993), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Antibodies of the invention also may be derived from human antibody fragments isolated from a combinatorial immunoglobulin library. See, for example, Barbas et al, METHODS: A COMPANION TO METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY, VOL. 2, page 119 (1991); Winter et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 12: 433 (1994), which are hereby incorporated by reference. Cloning and expression vectors that are useful for producing a human immunoglobulin phage library can be obtained, for example, from STRATAGENE Cloning Systems (La Jolla, Calif.).

In addition, antibodies of the present invention may be derived from a human monoclonal antibody. Such antibodies are obtained from transgenic mice that have been "engineered" to produce specific human antibodies in response to antigenic challenge. In this technique, elements of the human heavy and light chain loci are introduced into strains of mice derived from embryonic stem cell lines that contain targeted disruptions of the endogenous heavy and light chain loci. The transgenic mice can synthesize human antibodies specific for human antigens, and the mice can be used to produce human antibody-secreting hybridomas. Methods for obtaining human antibodies from transgenic mice are described by Green et al., Nature Genet. 7:13 (1994); Lonberg et al., Nature 368:856 (1994); and Taylor et al., Int. Immunol. 6:579 (1994), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Antibody fragments of the present invention can be prepared by proteolytic hydrolysis of the antibody or by expression in E. coli of DNA encoding the fragment. Antibody fragments can be obtained by pepsin or papain digestion of whole antibodies by conventional methods. For example, antibody fragments can be produced by enzymatic cleavage of antibodies with pepsin to provide a 5S fragment denoted F(ab')₂. This fragment can be further cleaved using a thiol reducing agent, and optionally a blocking group for the sulfhydryl groups resulting from cleavage of disulfide linkages, to produce 3.5S Fab' monovalent fragments. Alternatively, an enzymatic cleavage using pepsin produces two monovalent Fab' fragments and an Fc fragment directly. These methods are described, for example, by Goldenberg, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,036,945 and 4,331,647, and references contained therein. These patents are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference. See also Nisonhoff et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 89:230 (1960); Porter, Biochem. J. 73:119 (1959); Edelman et al., METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY, VOL. 1, page 422 (Academic Press 1967); and Coligan et al. at sections 2.8.1-2.8.10 and 2.10.1-2.10.4.

Other methods of cleaving antibodies, such as separation of heavy chains to form monovalent light-heavy chain fragments, further cleavage of fragments, or other enzymatic, chemical, or genetic techniques may also be used, so long as the fragments bind to the antigen that is recognized by the intact antibody.

For example, Fv fragments comprise an association of V_(H) and V_(L) chains. This association may be noncovalent, as described in Inbar et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 69:2659 (1972). Alternatively, the variable chains can be linked by an intermolecular disulfide bond or cross-linked by chemicals such as glutaraldehyde. See, e.g., Sandhu, supra. Preferably, the Fv fragments comprise V_(H) and V_(L) chains connected by a peptide linker. These single-chain antigen binding proteins (sFv) are prepared by constructing a structural gene comprising DNA sequences encoding the V_(H) and V_(L) domains connected by an oligonucleotide. The structural gene is inserted into an expression vector, which is subsequently introduced into a host cell such as E. coli. The recombinant host cells synthesize a single polypeptide chain with a linker peptide bridging the two V domains. Methods for producing sFvs are described, for example, by Whitlow et al., METHODS: A COMPANION TO METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY, VOL. 2, page 97 (1991); Bird et al., Science 242:423-426 (1988); Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Pack et al., Bio/Technology 11: 1271-77 (1993); and Sandhu, supra.

Another form of an antibody fragment is a peptide coding for a single complementarity-determining region (CDR). CDR peptides ("minimal recognition units") can be obtained by constructing genes encoding the CDR of an antibody of interest. Such genes are prepared, for example, by using the polymerase chain reaction to synthesize the variable region from RNA of antibody-producing cells. See, for example, Larrick et al., METHODS: A COMPANION TO METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY, VOL. 2, page 106 (1991).

The term "cell-proliferative disorder" denotes malignant as well as non-malignant cell populations which often appear to differ from the surrounding tissue both morphologically and genotypically. The GDF-9 polynucleotide that is an antisense molecule is useful in treating malignancies of the various organ systems, particularly, for example, the ovaries. Essentially, any disorder which is etiologically linked to altered expression of GDF-9 could be considered susceptible to treatment with a GDF-9 suppressing reagent.

The invention provides a method for detecting a cell proliferative disorder of the ovary which comprises contacting an anti-GDF-9 antibody with a cell suspected of having a GDF-9 associated disorder and detecting binding to the antibody. The antibody reactive with GDF-9 is labeled with a compound which allows detection of binding to GDF-9. For purposes of the invention, an antibody specific for GDF-9 polypeptide may be used to detect the level of GDF-9 in biological fluids and tissues. Any specimen containing a detectable amount of antigen can be used. A preferred sample of this invention is tissue of ovarian origin, specifically tissue containing granulosa cells or ovarian follicular fluid. The level of GDF-9 in the suspect cell can be compared with the level in a normal cell to determine whether the subject has a GDF-9-associated cell proliferative disorder. Preferably the subject is human.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a contraceptive method which includes inhibiting oocyte maturation. The method comprises contacting oocytes with an inhibiting effective amount of an inhibitor of GDF-9, thereby inhibiting oocyte maturation as compared to untreated oocytes. The term "inhibiting effective amount" as used herein means that amount of an inhibitor of GDF-9 that reduces maturation of an oocyte by about 50%, more preferably by about 75%, and most preferably by about 95%. One of skill in the art could use any of several methods for determining whether the amount of inhibitor of GDF-9 is effective. For example, maturation of an oocyte results in ovulation, therefore, prevention of ovulation is indicative of an effective amount. For a period just prior to ovulation, a female's body temperature increases, indicating a fertile period. An absence of a change in body temperature is indicative of prevention of oocyte maturation. Alternatively, one could measure the level of serum progesterone (see Example 6) in the subject prior to and following treatment with the inhibitor of GDF-9, where a low level of progesterone maintained throughout the period is indicative of inhibition of maturation. Levels of lutinizing hormone (LH) generally increase at the time of ovulation as well, and continuous low levels of LH can serve as an indicator of inhibition of maturation of oocytes as well. Other events associated with ovulation can be monitored in a similar manner and will be known to those of skill in the art.

An "inhibitor of GDF-9" as used herein, refers to GDF-antibodies or fragments thereof as described above, antisense molecules, or peptide or peptidomimetics of GDF-9 polypeptide, for example. Other small molecules or chemical compounds may also be GDF-9 inhibitors. Also included are compounds identified using combinatorial chemistry methods for identifying chemical compounds that bind to GDF-9 or GDF-9 receptor. Preferably, when the inhibitor is a GDF-9 antibody or fragment thereof, the antibody is administered in a dose range of 0.1 ug to 100 mg. Preferably, the inhibitor is administered in vivo and preferably, the subject is a mammal, such as a human. The term "contacting" refers to administering the GDF-9 inhibitor in such a way that the inhibitor inhibits GDF-9. Methods of administration are described in detail below.

The method of the invention is also useful for inducing an immune response in a subject to GDF-9 whereby oocyte maturation is inhibited, comprising administering to a subject GDF-9 polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof and inducing an anti-GDF-9 immune response in the subject. Methods of producing immunogenic fragments of a polypeptide are well known in the art.

Polypeptides or peptides, including GDF-9 variants useful for the present invention comprise analogs, homologs, muteins and mimetics of GDF-9 that retain the ability to induce a specific immune response to GDF-9 or to inhibit oocyte maturation. Peptides of GDF-9 refer to portions of the amino acid sequence of GDF-9 that also retain this ability. The variants can be generated directly from GDF-9 itself by chemical modification, by proteolytic enzyme digestion, or by combinations thereof. Additionally, genetic engineering techniques, as well as methods of synthesizing polypeptides directly from amino acid residues, can be employed.

Peptides of the invention can be synthesized by such commonly used methods as t-BOC or FMOC protection of alpha-amino groups. Both methods involve stepwise syntheses whereby a single amino acid is added at each step starting from the C ten inus of the peptide (See, Coligan, et al., Current Protocols in Immunology, Wiley Interscience, 1991, Unit 9). Peptides of the invention can also be synthesized by the well known solid phase peptide synthesis methods described Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149, 1962), and Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptides Synthesis, (Freeman, San Francisco, 1969, pp.27-62), using a copoly(styrene-divinylbenzene) containing 0.1-1.0 mMol amines/g polymer. On completion of chemical synthesis, the peptides can be deprotected and cleaved from the polymer by treatment with liquid HF-10% anisole for about 1/4-1 hours at 0° C. After evaporation of the reagents, the peptides are extracted from the polymer with 1% acetic acid solution which is then lyophilized to yield the crude material. This can normally be purified by such techniques as gel filtration on Sephadex G-15 using 5% acetic acid as a solvent. Lyophilization of appropriate fractions of the column will yield the homogeneous peptide or peptide derivatives, which can then be characterized by such standard techniques as amino acid analysis, thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, molar rotation, solubility, and quantitated by the solid phase Edman degradation. Alternatively, peptides can be produced by recombinant methods.

The term "substantially purified" as used herein refers to a molecule, such as a peptide that is substantially free of other proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and other biological materials with which it is naturally associated. For example, a substantially pure molecule, such as a polypeptide, can be at least 60%, by dry weight, the molecule of interest. One skilled in the art can purify GDF-9 peptides using standard protein purification methods and the purity of the polypeptides can be determined using standard methods including, e.g., polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (e.g., SDS-PAGE), column chromatography (e.g., high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)), and amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis.

Non-peptide compounds that mimic the binding and function of GDF-9 ("mimetics") can be produced by the approach outlined in Saragovi et al., Science 253: 792-95 (1991). Mimetics are molecules which mimic elements of protein secondary structure. See, for example, Johnson et al.,"Peptide Turn Mimetics," in BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACY, Pezzuto et al, Eds., (Chapman and Hall, New York 1993). The underlying rationale behind the use of peptide mimetics is that the peptide backbone of proteins exists chiefly to orient amino acid side chains in such a way as to facilitate molecular interactions. For the purposes of the present invention, appropriate mimetics can be considered to be the equivalent of GDF-9 itself.

Longer peptides can be produced by the "native chemical" ligation technique which links together peptides (Dawson, et al., Science, 266:776, 1994). Variants can be created by recombinant techniques employing genomic or cDNA cloning methods. Site-specific and region-directed mutagenesis techniques can be employed. See CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY vol. 1, ch. 8 (Ausubel et al. eds., J. Wiley & Sons 1989 & Supp. 1990-93); PROTEIN ENGINEERING (Oxender & Fox eds., A. Liss, Inc. 1987). In addition, linker-scanning and PCR-mediated techniques can be employed for mutagenesis. See PCR TECHNOLOGY (Erlich ed., Stockton Press 1989); CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, vols. 1 & 2, supra. Protein sequencing, structure and modeling approaches for use with any of the above techniques are disclosed in PROTEIN ENGINEERING, loc. cit., and CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, vols. 1 & 2, supra.

The invention also includes various pharmaceutical compositions that prevent maturation of an oocyte. The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention are prepared by bringing an antibody against GDF-9, a peptide or peptide derivative of GDF-9, a GDF-9 mimetic, or a GDF-9-binding agent according to the present invention into a form suitable for administration to a subject using carriers, excipients and additives or auxiliaries. Frequently used carriers or auxiliaries include magnesium carbonate, titanium dioxide, lactose, mannitol and other sugars, talc, milk protein, gelatin, starch, vitamins, cellulose and its derivatives, animal and vegetable oils, polyethylene glycols and solvents, such as sterile water, alcohols, glycerol and polyhydric alcohols. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers. Preservatives include antimicrobial, anti-oxidants, chelating agents and inert gases. Other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include aqueous solutions, non-toxic excipients, including salts, preservatives, buffers and the like, as described, for instance, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15th ed. Easton: Mack Publishing Co., 1405-1412, 1461-1487 (1975) and The National Formulary XIV., 14th ed. Washington: American Pharmaceutical Association (1975), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The pH and exact concentration of the various components of the pharmaceutical composition are adjusted according to routine skills in the art. See Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basisfor Therapeutics (7th ed.).

The methods involves administering to a subject a therapeutically or inhibiting effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition containing the compounds of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. "Administering" the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be accomplished by any means known to the skilled artisan. By "subject" is meant any mammal, preferably a human.

The pharmaceutical compositions are preferably prepared and administered in dose units. Solid dose units are tablets, capsules and suppositories. For treatment of a patient, depending on activity of the compound, manner of administration, nature and severity of the disorder, age and body weight of the patient, different daily doses are necessary. Under certain circumstances, however, higher or lower daily doses may be appropriate. The administration of the daily dose can be carried out both by single administration in the form of an individual dose unit or else several smaller dose units and also by multiple administration of subdivided doses at specific intervals.

The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention are in general administered topically, intravenously, orally or parenterally or as implants, but even rectal use is possible in principle. Suitable solid or liquid pharmaceutical preparation forms are, for example, granules, powders, tablets, coated tablets, (micro)capsules, suppositories, syrups, emulsions, suspensions, creams, aerosols, drops or injectable solution in ampule form and also preparations with protracted release of active compounds, in whose preparation excipients and additives and/or auxiliaries such as disintegrants, binders, coating agents, swelling agents, lubricants, flavorings, sweeteners or solubilizers are customarily used as described above. The pharmaceutical compositions are suitable for use in a variety of drug delivery systems. For a brief review of present methods for drug delivery, see Langer, Science, 249: 1527-1533 (1990), which is incorporated herein by reference.

The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may be administered locally or systemically. By "therapeutically effective dose" is meant the quantity of a compound according to the invention necessary to prevent, to cure or at least partially arrest the symptoms of the disease and its complications. An "inhibiting effective amount" of GDF-9 inhibitor has been defined above for use as in contraception regimes. Amounts effective for this use will, of course, depend on the severity of the disease and the weight and general state of the patient. Typically, dosages used in vitro may provide useful guidance in the amounts useful for in situ administration of the pharmaceutical composition, and animal models may be used to determine effective dosages for treatment of particular disorders. Various considerations are described, e.g., in Gilman et al. (eds.) (1990) GOODMAN AND GILMAN'S: THE PHARMACOLOGICAL BASES OF THERAPEUTICS, 8th ed., Pergamon Press; and REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, 17th ed. (1990), Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be delivered by a slow release vehicle. Compounds of the invention can be further diluted by addition of suspending medium or other biologically acceptable carrier to obtain injectable or implantable slow release formulations of any therapeutically effective total dosage. One approach which has been used to provide controlled release compositions for drug delivery is liposome encapsulation. Among the main types of liposomes, multivesicular liposomes (Kim, et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta; 728:339-348, 1983), are uniquely different from unilamellar liposomes (Huang, Biochemistry; 8:334-352, 1969; Kim, et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta; 646: 1-10, 1981), multilamellar liposomes (Bangham, et al., J. Mol. Bio., 13:238-252, 1965), and stable plurilamellar liposomes (U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,803). U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,056 discloses studies that show the rate of release of the encapsulated biological agent from liposomes into an aqueous environment can be modulated by introducing protonophores or ionophores into liposomes to create a membrane potential. In addition, a method is known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,941) for controlling the release rate of drugs from vesicle compositions wherein the liposomes containing a therapeutic agent encapsulated are suspended in a solution containing sufficient solute to provide an osmolarity substantially isotonic with respect to that of the solution within the vesicles, and hypertonic with respect to physiological saline. In multivesicular liposomes, it is also known (WO 96/08253) to control the rate of release of active agents by introducing an osmotic spacer into the aqueous solution in which the active agent is dissolved prior to formation of the multivesicular liposomes.

The antibodies of the invention can be used in any subject in which it is desirable to administer in vitro or in vivo immunodiagnosis or immunotherapy. The antibodies of the invention are suited for use, for example, in immunoassays in which they can be utilized in liquid phase or bound to a solid phase carrier. In addition, the antibodies in these immunoassays can be detectably labeled in various ways. Examples of types of immunoassays which can utilize antibodies of the invention are competitive and non-competitive immunoassays in either a direct or indirect format. Examples of such immunoassays are the radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the sandwich (immunometric) assay. Detection of the antigens using the antibodies of the invention can be done utilizing immunoassays which are run in either the forward, reverse, or simultaneous modes, including immunohistochemical assays on physiological samples. Those of skill in the art will know, or can readily discern, other immunoassay formats without undue experimentation.

The antibodies of the invention can be bound to many different carriers and used to detect the presence of an antigen comprising the polypeptide of the invention. Examples of well-known carriers include glass, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, dextran, nylon, amylases, natural and modified celluloses, polyacrylamides, agaroses and magnetite. The nature of the carrier can be either soluble or insoluble for purposes of the invention. Those skilled in the art will know of other suitable carriers for binding antibodies, or will be able to ascertain such, using routine experimentation.

There are many different labels and methods of labeling known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Examples of the types of labels which can be used in the present invention include enzymes, radioisotopes, fluorescent compounds, colloidal metals, chemiluminescent compounds, phosphorescent compounds, and bioluminescent compounds. Those of ordinary skill in the art will know of other suitable labels for binding to the antibody, or will be able to ascertain such, using routine experimentation.

Another technique which may also result in greater sensitivity consists of coupling the antibodies to low molecular weight haptens. These haptens can then be specifically detected by means of a second reaction. For example, it is common to use such haptens as biotin, which reacts with avidin, or dinitrophenyl, puridoxal, and fluorescein, which can react with specific antihapten antibodies.

In using the monoclonal antibodies of the invention for the in vivo detection of antigen, the detectably labeled antibody is given a dose which is diagnostically effective. The term "diagnostically effective" means that the amount of detectably labeled monoclonal antibody is administered in sufficient quantity to enable detection of the site having the antigen comprising a polypeptide of the invention for which the monoclonal antibodies are specific.

The concentration of detectably labeled monoclonal antibody which is adminstered should be sufficient such that the binding to those cells having the polypeptide is detectable compared to the background. Further, it is desirable that the detectably labeled monoclonal antibody be rapidly cleared from the circulatory system in order to give the best target-to-background signal ratio.

As a rule, the dosage of detectably labeled monoclonal antibody for in vivo diagnosis will vary depending on such factors as age, sex, and extent of disease of the individual. Such dosages may vary, for example, depending on whether multiple injections are given, antigenic burden, and other factors known to those of skill in the art.

For in vivo diagnostic imaging, the type of detection instrument available is a major factor in selecting a given radioisotope. The radioisotope chosen must have a type of decay which is detectable for a given type of instrument. Still another important factor in selecting a radioisotope for in vivo diagnosis is that deleterious radiation with respect to the host is minimized. Ideally, a radioisotope used for in vivo imaging will lack a particle emission, but produce a large number of photons in the 140-250 keV range, which may readily be detected by conventional gamma cameras.

For in vivo diagnosis radioisotopes may be bound to immunoglobulin either directly or indirectly by using an intermediate functional group. Intermediate functional groups which often are used to bind radioisotopes which exist as metallic ions to immunoglobulins are the bifunctional chelating agents such as diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) and ethylenediaminetetraacctic acid (EDTA) and similar molecules. Typical examples of metallic ions which can be bound to the monoclonal antibodies of the invention are ¹¹¹ In, ⁹⁷ Ru, ⁶⁷ Ga, ⁶⁸ Ga, ⁷² As, ⁸⁹ Zr, and ²⁰¹ Tl.

The monoclonal antibodies of the invention can also be labeled with a paramagnetic isotope for purposes of in vivo diagnosis, as in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or electron spin resonance (ESR). In general, any conventional method for visualizing diagnostic imaging can be utilized. Usually gamma and positron emitting radioisotopes are used for camera imaging and paramagnetic isotopes for MRI. Elements which are particularly useful in such techniques include ¹⁵⁷ Gd, ⁵⁵ Mn, ¹⁶² Dy, ⁵² Cr, and ⁵⁶ Fe.

The monoclonal antibodies of the invention can be used in vitro and in vivo to monitor the course of amelioration of a GDF-9-associated disease in a subject. Thus, for example, by measuring the increase or decrease in the number of cells expressing antigen comprising a polypeptide of the invention or changes in the concentration of such antigen present in various body fluids, it would be possible to determine whether a particular therapeutic regimen aimed at ameliorating the GDF-9-associated disease is effective. The term "ameliorate" denotes a lessening of the detrimental effect of the GDF-9-associated disease in the subject receiving therapy. Similarly, such techniques can be used to follow a contraceptive regime in a subject.

The present invention identifies a nucleotide sequence that can be expressed in an altered manner as compared to expression in a normal cell, therefore, it is possible to design appropriate therapeutic or diagnostic techniques directed to this sequence. Thus, where a cell-proliferative disorder is associated with the expression of GDF-9, nucleic acid sequences that interfere with GDF-9 expression at the translational level can be used. This approach utilizes, for example, antisense nucleic acid and ribozymes to block translation of a specific GDF-9 mRNA, either by masking that mRNA with an antisense nucleic acid or by cleaving it with a ribozyme. In addition, antisense molecules or ribozymes are useful in the contraceptive methods of the invention where it is desirable to inhibit GDF-9 expression. As a further mechanism of action, in "transcription arrest" it appears that some polynucleotides can form "triplex," or triple-helical structures with double stranded genomic DNA containing the gene of interest, thus interfering with transcription by RNA polymerase. Giovannangeli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 90:10013 (1993); Ebbinghaus et al. J. Clin. Invest. 92:2433 (1993).

Antisense nucleic acids are DNA or RNA molecules that are complementary to at least a portion of a specific mRNA molecule (Weintraub, Scientific American, 262:40, 1990). In the cell, the antisense nucleic acids hybridize to the corresponding mRNA, forming a double-stranded molecule. The antisense nucleic acids interfere with the translation of the mRNA, since the cell will not translate a mRNA that is double-stranded. Antisense oligomers of about 15 nucleotides are preferred, since they are easily synthesized and are less likely to cause problems than larger molecules when introduced into the target GDF-9-producing cell. The use of antisense methods to inhibit the in vitro translation of genes is well known in the art (Marcus-Sakura, Anal.Biochem., 172:289, 1988).

Ribozymes are RNA molecules possessing the ability to specifically cleave other single-stranded RNA in a manner analogous to DNA restriction endonucleases. Through the modification of nucleotide sequences which encode these RNAs, it is possible to engineer molecules that recognize specific nucleotide sequences in an RNA molecule and cleave it (Cech, J.Amer.Med. Assn., 260:3030, 1988). A major advantage of this approach is that, because they are sequence-specific, only mRNAs with particular sequences are inactivated.

There are two basic types of ribozymes namely, tetrahymena-type (Hasselhoff, Nature, 334:585, 1988) and "hammerhead"-type. Tetrahymena-type ribozymes recognize sequences which are four bases in length, while "hammerhead"-type ribozymes recognize base sequences 11-18 bases in length. The longer the recognition sequence, the greater the likelihood that the sequence will occur exclusively in the target mRNA species. Consequently, hammerhead-type ribozymes are preferable to tetrahymena-type ribozymes for inactivating a specific mRNA species and 18-based recognition sequences are preferable to shorter recognition sequences.

The present invention also provides gene therapy for the treatment of cell proliferative disorders which are mediated by GDF-9 protein or where it is desirable to inhibit GDF-9 expression for purposes of contraception. Such therapy would achieve its therapeutic effect by introduction of the GDF-9 antisense polynucleotide into cells having the proliferative disorder or introduction of antisense into oocytes. Delivery of antisense or sense GDF-9 polynucleotide, GDF-9 polypeptide or peptides can be achieved using a recombinant expression vector such as a chimeric virus or a colloidal dispersion system. Especially preferred for therapeutic delivery of antisense sequences is the use of targeted liposomes.

Various viral vectors which can be utilized for gene therapy as taught herein include adenovirus, herpes virus, vaccinia, or, preferably, an RNA virus such as a retrovirus. Preferably, the retroviral vector is a derivative of a murine or avian retrovirus. Examples of retroviral vectors in which a single foreign gene can be inserted include, but are not limited to: Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMuLV), Harvey murine sarcoma virus (HaMuSV), murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV), and Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV). A number of additional retroviral vectors can incorporate multiple genes. All of these vectors can transfer or incorporate a gene for a selectable marker so that transduced cells can be identified and generated. By inserting a GDF-9 sequence of interest into the viral vector, along with another gene which encodes the ligand for a receptor on a specific target cell, for example, the vector is now target specific. Retroviral vectors can be made target specific by inserting, for example, a polynucleotide encoding a sugar, a glycolipid, or a protein. Preferred targeting is accomplished by using an antibody to target the retroviral vector. Those of skill in the art will know of, or can readily ascertain without undue experimentation, specific polynucleotide sequences which can be inserted into the retroviral genome to allow target specific delivery of the retroviral vector containing the GDF-9 antisense polynucleotide.

Since recombinant retroviruses are defective, they require assistance in order to produce infectious vector particles. This assistance can be provided, for example, by using helper cell lines that contain plasmids encoding all of the structural genes of the retrovirus under the control of regulatory sequences within the LTR. These plasmids are missing a nucleotide sequence which enables the packaging mechanism to recognize an RNA transcript for encapsidation. Helper cell lines which have deletions of the packaging signal include, but are not limited to Ψ2, PA317 and PA 12, for example. These cell lines produce empty virions, since no genome is packaged. If a retroviral vector is introduced into such cells in which the packaging signal is intact, but the structural genes are replaced by other genes of interest, the vector can be packaged and vector virion produced.

Alternatively, NIH 3T3 or other tissue culture cells can be directly transfected with plasmids encoding the retroviral structural genes gag, pol and env, by conventional calcium phosphate transfection. These cells are then transfected with the vector plasmid containing the genes of interest. The resulting cells release the retroviral vector into the culture medium.

Another targeted delivery system for GDF-9 polynucleotides or polypeptides is a colloidal dispersion system. Colloidal dispersion systems include macromolecule complexes, nanocapsules, microspheres, beads, and lipid-based systems including oil-in-water emulsions, micelles, mixed micelles, and liposomes. The preferred colloidal system of this invention is a liposome. Liposomes are artificial membrane vesicles which are useful as delivery vehicles in vitro and in vivo. It has been shown that large unilamellar vesicles (LUV), which range in size from 0.2-4.0 μm can encapsulate a substantial percentage of an aqueous buffer containing large macromolecules. RNA, DNA and intact virions can be encapsulated within the aqueous interior and be delivered to cells in a biologically active form (Fraley, et al., Trends Biochem. Sci., 6:77, 1981). In addition to mammalian cells, liposomes have been used for delivery of polynucleotides in plant, yeast and bacterial cells. In order for a liposome to be an efficient gene transfer vehicle, the following characteristics should be present: (1) encapsulation of the genes of interest at high efficiency while not compromising their biological activity; (2) preferential and substantial binding to a target cell in comparison to non-target cells; (3) delivery of the aqueous contents of the vesicle to the target cell cytoplasm at high efficiency; and (4) accurate and effective expression of genetic information (Mannino, et al., Biotechniques, 6:682, 1988).

The composition of the liposome is usually a combination of phospholipids, particularly high-phase-transition-temperature phospholipids, usually in combination with steroids, especially cholesterol. Other phospholipids or other lipids may also be used. The physical characteristics of liposomes depend on pH, ionic strength, and the presence of divalent cations.

Examples of lipids useful in liposome production include phosphatidyl compounds, such as phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingolipids, cerebrosides, and gangliosides. Particularly useful are diacylphosphatidylglycerols, where the lipid moiety contains from 14-18 carbon atoms, particularly from 16-18 carbon atoms, and is saturated. Illustrative phospholipids include egg phosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and distearoylphosphatidylcholine.

The targeting of liposomes can be classified based on anatomical and mechanistic factors. Anatomical classification is based on the level of selectivity, for example, organ-specific, cell-specific, and organelle-specific. Mechanistic targeting can be distinguished based upon whether it is passive or active. Passive targeting utilizes the natural tendency of liposomes to distribute to cells of the reticulo-endothelial system (RES) in organs which contain sinusoidal capillaries. Active targeting, on the other hand, involves alteration of the liposome by coupling the liposome to a specific ligand such as a monoclonal antibody, sugar, glycolipid, or protein, or by changing the composition or size of the liposome in order to achieve targeting to organs and cell types other than the naturally occurring sites of localization.

The surface of the targeted delivery system may be modified in a variety of ways. In the case of a liposomal targeted delivery system, lipid groups can be incorporated into the lipid bilayer of the liposome in order to maintain the targeting ligand in stable association with the liposomal bilayer. Various linking groups can be used for joining the lipid chains to the targeting ligand.

The following examples are intended to illustrate but not limit the invention. While they are typical of those that might be used, other procedures known to those skilled in the art may alternatively be used.

EXAMPLE 1 IDENTIFICATION AND ISOLATION OF A NOVEL TGF-β FAMILY MEMBER

To identify a new member of the TGF-β superfamily, degenerate oligonucleotides were designed which corresponded to two conserved regions among the known family members: one region spanning the two tryptophan residues conserved in all family members except MIS and the other region spanning the invariant cysteine residues near the C-terminus. These primers were used for polymerase chain reactions on mouse genomic DNA followed by subcloning the PCR products using restriction sites placed at the 5' ends of the primers, picking individual E. coli colonies carrying these subcloned inserts, and using a combination of random sequencing and hybridization analysis to eliminate known members of the superfamily.

GDF-9 was identified from a mixture of PCR products obtained with the primers SJL160 (5'-CCGGAATTCGGITGG(G/C/A)A(G/A/T/C)(G/C/A)A(G/A/T/C) TGG(A/G)TI(A/G)TI(T/G)CICC-3') (SEQ ID No:1) and SJL153 (5'-CCGGAATTC(A/G)CAI(G/C)C(A/G)CAIC(T/C)(G/A/T/C)(C/G/T)TIG(T/C)I(G/A)(T/C)CAT-3') (SEQ ID No:2). PCR using these primers was carried out with 2 μg mouse genomic DNA at 94° C. for 1 min, 50° C. for 2 min, and 72° C. for 2 min for 40 cycles.

PCR products of approximately 280 bp were gel-purified, digested with Eco RI, gel-purified again, and subcloned in the Bluescript vector (Stratagene, San Diego, Calif.). Bacterial colonies carrying individual subclones were picked into 96 well microtiter plates, and multiple replicas were prepared by plating the cells onto nitrocellulose. The replicate filters were hybridized to probes representing known members of the family, and DNA was prepared from non-hybridizing colonies for sequence analysis.

The primer combination of SJL160 and SJL153, yielded three known sequences (inhibin βB, BMP-2, and BMP-4) and one novel sequence (designated GDF-9) among 145 subclones analyzed. RNA isolation and Northern analysis were carried out as described previously (Lee,S.J., Mol. Endocrinol. 4:1034, 1990). An oligo dT-primed cDNA library was prepared from 2.5-3 μg of ovary poly A-selected RNA in the lambda ZAP II vector according to the instructions provided by Stratagene. The ovary library was not amplified prior to screening. Filters were hybridized as described previously (Lee, S.-J., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 88:4250-4254, 1991). DNA sequencing of both strands was carried out using the dideoxy chain termination method (Sanger, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 74:5463-5467, 1977) and a combination of the S1 nuclease/exonuclease III strategy (Henikoff, S., Gene, 28:351-359, 1984) and synthetic oligonucleotide primers.

EXAMPLE 2 EXPRESSION PATTERN AND SEQUENCE OF GDF-9

To determine the expression pattern of GDF-9, RNA samples prepared from a variety of adult tissues were screened by Northern analysis. Five micrograms of twice polyA-selected RNA prepared from each tissue were electrophoresed on formaldehyde gels, blotted and probed with GDF-9. As shown in FIG. 1, the GDF-9 probe detected a 1.7 kb mRNA expressed exclusively in the ovary.

A mouse ovary cDNA library of 1.5×10⁶ recombinant phage was constructed in lambda ZAP II and screened with a probe derived from the GDF-9 PCR product. The nucleotide sequence of the longest of nineteen hybridizing clones is shown in FIG. 2. Consensus N-glycosylation signals are denoted by plain boxes. The putative tetrabasic processing sites are denoted by stippled boxes. The in-frame termination codons upstream of the putative initiating ATG and the consensus polyadenylation signals are underlined. The poly A tails are not shown. Numbers indicate nucleotide position relative to the 5' end. The 1712 bp sequence contains a long open reading frame beginning with a methionine codon at nucleotide 29 and potentially encoding a protein 441 amino acids in length with a molecular weight of 49.6 kD. Like other TGF-β family members, the GDF-9 sequence contains a core of hydrophobic amino acids near the N-terminus suggestive of a signal sequence for secretion. GDF-9 contains four potential N-glycosylation sites at asparagine residues 163, 229, 258, and 325 and a putative tetrabasic proteolytic processing site (RRRR) at amino acids 303-306. The mature C-terminal fragment of GDF-9 is predicted to be 135 amino acids in length and have an unglycosylated molecular weight of 15.6 kD. Although the C-terminal portion of GDF-9 clearly shows homology with the other family members, the sequence of GDF-9 is significantly diverged from those of the other family members (FIGS. 3 and 4). FIG. 3 shows the alignment of the C-terminal sequences of GDF-9 with the corresponding regions of human GDF-1 (Lee, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:4250-4254, 1991),Xenopus Vg-1 (Weeks, et al., Cell, 51:861-867, 1987), human Vgr-1 (Celeste, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87:9843-9847, 1990), human OP-1 (Ozkaynak, et al., EMBO J., 9:2085-2093, 1990), human BMP-5 (Celeste, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87:9843-9847 1990), Drosophila 60A (Wharton, el al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:9214-9218, 1991), human BMP-2 and 4 (Wozney, et al., Science, 242:1528-1534, 1988), Drosophila DPP (Padgett, et al., Nature, 325:81-84,1987), human BMP-3 (Wozney, et al., Science, 242:1528-1534, 1988), human MIS (Cate, et al., Cell, 45:685-698, 1986), human inhibin, βA, and βB (Mason, et al., Biochem, Biophys. Res. Commun., 135:957-964, 1986), human TGF-β1 (Derynck, et al., Nature, 316:701-705, 1985), human TGF-β2 (deMartin, et al., EMBO J., 6:3673-3677, 1987), human TGF-β3 (ten Dijke, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 85:4715-4719, 1988), chicken TGF-β4 (Jakowlew, et al., Mol. Endocrinol., 2:1186-1195, 1988), and Xenopus TGF-β5 (Kondaiah, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:1089-1093, 1990). The conserved cysteine residues are shaded. Dashes denote gaps introduced in order to maximize the alignment.

FIG. 4 shows the amino acid homologies among the different members of the TGF-β superfamily. Numbers represent percent amino acid identities between each pair calculated from the first conserved cysteine to the C-terminus. Boxes represent homologies among highly-related members within particular subgroups.

The degree of sequence identify with known family members ranges from a minimum of 21% with MIS to a maximum of 34% with BMP-4. Hence, GDF-9 is comparable to MIS in its degree of sequence divergence from the other members of this superfamily. Moreover, GDF-9 shows no significant sequence homology to other family members in the pro-region of the molecule. GDF-9 also differs from the known family members in its pattern of cysteine residues in the C-terminal region. GDF-9 lacks the fourth cysteine of the seven cysteines that are present in all other family members; in place of cysteine at this position, the GDF-9 sequence contains a serine residue. In addition, GDF-9 does not contain a seventh cysteine residue elsewhere in the C-terminal region.

EXAMPLE 3 IMMUNOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF GDF-9 IN THE ZONA PELLUCIDA

To determine whether GDF-9 mRNA was translated, sections of adult ovaries were incubated with antibodies directed against recombinant GDF-9 protein. In order to raise antibodies against GDF-9, portions of GDF-9 cDNA spanning amino acids 30 to 295 (pro-region) or 308 to 441 (mature region) were cloned into the T7-based pET3 expression vector (provided by F. W. Studier, Brookhaven National Laboratory), and te resulting plasmids were transformed into the BL21 (DE3) bacterial strain. Total cell extracts from isopropyl _(B) -D-thiogalactoside-induced cells were electrophoresed on SDS/polyacrylamide gels, and the GDF-9 protein fragments were excised, mixed with Freund's adjuvant, and used to immunize rabbits by standard methods known to those of skill in the art. All immunizations were carried out by Spring Valley Lab (Sykesville, Md.). The presence of GDF-9 reactive antibodies in the sera of these rabbits were assessed by Western analysis of bacterially-expressed protein by Western analysis.

For immunohistochemical studies, ovaries were removed from adult mice, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned. Sites of antibody binding were detected by using the Vectastain ABC kit, according to the instructions provided by Vector Laboratories. FIG. 5 shows the immunohistochemical localization of GDF-9 protein. Adjacent sections of an adult ovary were either stained with hematoxylin and eosin (FIG. 5a) or incubated with immune (FIG. 5b) or pre-immune (FIG. 5c) serum at a dilution of 1:500. As show in FIG. 5b, the antiserum detected protein solely in oocytes. No staining was detected using pre-immune serum (FIG. 5c). Hence, GDF-9 protein appears to translated in vivo by oocytes.

EXAMPLE 4 ISOLATION OF HUMAN GDF-9

In order to isolate a CDNA clone encoding human GDF-9, a CDNA library was constructed in lambda ZAP II using poly A-selected RNA prepared from an adult human ovary. From this library, a cDNA clone containing the entire human GDF-9 coding sequence was identified using standard screening techniques as in Example 1 and using the murine GDF-9 clone as a probe. A comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of murine (top lines) and human (bottom lines) GDF-9 is shown in FIG. 6. Numbers represent amino acid positions relative to the N-termini. Vertical lines represent sequence identities. Dots represent gaps introduced in order to maximize the alignment. The clear box shows the predicted proteolytic processing sites. The shaded boxes show the cysteine residues in the mature region of the proteins. The bars at the bottom show a schematic of the pre-(clear) and mature (shaded) regions of GDF-9 with the percent sequence identities between the murine and human sequences shown below.

Like murine GDF-9, human GDF-9 contains a hydrophobic leader sequence, a putative RXXR (amino acid residues 303-306 of SEQ ID NO:4) proteolytic cleavage site, and a C-terminal region containing the hallmarks of other TGF-β family members. Murine and human GDF-9 are 64% identical in the pro- region and 90% identical in the predicted mature region of the molecule. The high degree of homology between the two sequences suggest that human GDF-9 plays an important role during embryonic development and/or in the adult ovary.

EXAMPLE 5 NUCLEIC ACID DETECTION OF EXPRESSION OF GDF-9 IN OOCYTES

In order to localize the expression of GDF-9 in the ovary, in situ hybridization to mouse ovary sections was carried out using an antisense GDF-9 RNA probe. FIG. 7 shows in situ hybridization to adult ovary sections using a GDF-9 RNA probe. [³⁵ S]-labeled anti-sense (FIGS. 7a and 7c) or sense (FIGS. 7b and 7d) GDF-9 RNA probes were hybridized to adjacent paraffin-embedded sections of ovarians fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. Sections were dipped in photographic emulsion, exposed, developed, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Two representative fields are shown.

As shown in FIGS. 7a and 7c, GDF-9 mRNA was detected primarily in oocytes in adult ovaries. Every oocyte (regardless of the stage of follicular development) examined showed GDF-9 expression, and no expression was detected in any other cell types. No hybridization was seen using a control GDF-9 sense RNA probe (FIGS. 7b and 7d). Hence, GDF-9 expression appears to be oocyte-specific in adult ovaries.

To determine the pattern of expression of GDF-9 mRNA during ovarian development, sections of neonatal ovaries were probed with a GDF-9 RNA probe. FIG. 8 shows in situ hybridization to a postnatal day 4 ovary section using an antisense GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7. Following autoradiography and staining, the section was photographed under bright-field (FIG. 8a) or dark-field (FIG. 8b) illumination.

FIG. 9 shows in situ hybridization to postnatal day 8 ovary sections using an antisense (FIG. 9a) or sense (FIG. 9b) GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7.

GDF-9 mRNA expression was first detected at the onset of follicular development. This was most clearly evident at postnatal day 4, where only oocytes that were present in follicles showed GDF-9 expression (FIG. 8): no expression was seen in oocytes that were not surrounded by granulosa cells. By postnatal day 8, every oocyte appeared to have undergone follicular development, and every oocyte showed GDF-9 expression (FIG. 9).

To determine whether GDF-9 was also expressed following ovulation, sections of mouse oviducts were examined by in situ hybridization. FIG. 10 shows in situ hybridization to adult oviduct sections using an antisense (FIG. 10a) or sense (FIG. 10b) GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows in situ hybridization to adult oviduct (0.5 days following fertilization) section using an antisense GDF-9 RNA probe. Sections were prepared as described for FIG. 7. Following autoradiography and staining, the section was photographed under bright-field (FIG. 11a) or dark-field (FIG. 11b) illumination.

As shown in FIG. 10, GDF-9 was expressed by oocytes that had been released into the oviduct. However, the expression of GDF-9 mRNA turned off rapidly following fertilization of the oocytes; by day 0.5 following fertilization, only some embryos (such as the one shown in FIG. 11) expressed GDF-9 mRNA, and by day 1.5, all embryos were negative for GDF-9 expression.

EXAMPLE 6 CONTRACEPTIVE TARGET

GDF-9 is a novel protein growth factor which regulates the early development and the maturation of the egg (oocyte). Experimental results demonstrate that this factor is essential to the development of the egg. Several lines of evidence support this including: 1) GDF-9 mRNA is expressed exclusively by developing and maturing oocytes; 2) GDF-9 protein is secreted by maturing oocytes and is essential for the normal development of the follicle; and 3) GDF-9 deficient (knockout) female mice do not develop mature eggs or follicles and are completely sterile (Dong et al., Nature, 383,531, 1996).

GDF-9 is a highly specific and novel target for the development of a female contraceptive or as a nonsurgical method of sterilization. There are several different approaches one may use to develop a contraceptive using GDF-9 as a target: 1) the use of the GDF-9 protein or a peptide fragment as a "vaccine"; 2) use of an anti-GDF-9 antibody which binds to and effectively inhibit or neutralize the biological actions of the GDF-9 molecule; and 3) the use of a GDF-9 receptor antagonist. The term "vaccine" as used herein refers to a composition or compound that induces a protective immune response. For example, a GDF-9 "vaccine" protects against conception or pregnancy and acts as a contraceptive.

The following are examples includes different ways that oocyte development and maturation may be regulated in order to prevent ovulation or to cause permanent, nonsurgical sterilization in humans and in other species. These examples are intended to illustrate but not limit the invention. While they are typical of those that might be used, other procedures known to those skilled in the art may alternatively be used.

1. Active Immunization: GDF-9 "vaccines"

The intact GDF-9 protein, or a fragment thereof, is an effective source of the composition used to induce an immune response directed toward oocytes (e.g., vaccine). The intact GDF-9 protein or a monomeric subunit can be economically produced in mammalian cell culture, yeast or microbial culture (such as Bacillus or E. coli). Alternatively, a peptide fragment of GDF-9 is also a suitable source for producing a vaccine. Typically, such fragments are 10 to 30 amino acids long, are exposed on the exterior portions of the GDF-9 molecule, and may be located within or near the receptor binding portion of the GDF-9 molecule.

Several methods can be used to enhance the antigenicity of the GDF-9, or a fragment thereof. Such methods are well known and include forming a chemical complex between a hapten (GDF-9 or a fragment thereof) and a larger carrier molecule (hapten-carrier); mixing the antigen with an adjuvant; or denaturing the protein with heat, detergent, or chaotrophic agent (urea or guanidine-HCl).

The following experiment can be performed to demonstrate that a GDF-9 composition is an effective contraceptive. Using New Zealand white rabbits as a model, the rabbits are immunized with either the intact GDF-9, a GDF-9 monomer, or one of the GDF-9 fragments listed in the table below. The route of administration is subcutaneous when an adjuvant is used. In the case when an adjuvant is not used, the routes of administration may include subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or intraperitoneal. The preferred route is subcutaneous.

Typically, single or multiple immunization may be required to produce an immune response to GDF-9. The humoral immune response may be monitored by routine serologic methods. Briefly, one to two weeks following the first immunization, a scrum sample is obtained and the antibody titer to the GDF-9 protein is determined by either ELISA or RIA methods. A second or third immunization may be required every 10-14 days in order to produce an effective immune response.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         GDF-9 vaccines, proteins, concentrations and formulations                                     Protein                                                                        concentration                                                   Vaccine        (mg)       Formulation                                          ______________________________________                                         Intact GDF-9 homodimer                                                                        0.1, 1.0, 10                                                                              neutral buffered saline                                                        solution with or without                                                       adjuvant.sup.1                                       Heat denatured or chemically                                                                  0.1, 1.0, 10                                                                              neutral buffered saline                              denatured GDF-9           solution with or without                                                       adjuvant                                             GDF-9 monomer  0.1, 1.0, 10                                                                              neutral buffered saline                                                        solution with or without                                                       adjuvant                                             GDF-9 monomer conjugated                                                                      0.1, 1.0, 10                                                                              neutral buffered saline                              to carrier protein.sup.2  solution with or without                                                       adjuvant                                             GDF-9 fragments 1, 2 or 3                                                                     0.1, 1.0, 10                                                                              neutral buffered saline                              (predicted exposed site   solution with adjuvant                               within putative receptor                                                       binding domain)                                                                GDF-9 fragments 1, 2 or 3                                                                     0.1, 1.0, 10                                                                              neutral buffered saline                              conjugated to a carrier   solution with or without                             protein                   adjuvant                                             ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Adjuvants suitable for use in animals include Freunds complete or       incomplete adjuvant. Adjuvants suitable for use in humans will be known t      those of skill in the art.                                                     .sup.2 Monomer is covalently coupled to a suitable carrier protein such a      heat denatured immunoglobulin, denatured albumin or KLH.                 

Rabbits are a good model to demonstrate the effectiveness of a GDF-9 vaccine. Rabbits are immunized with GDF-9 or a GDF-9 fragment in an adjuvant. Antibody titers to GDF-9 are determined in order to assure that a humoral response has been achieved. Gonadotrophin is administered in order to induce ovulation in the rabbit. Following gonadotrophin administration serum progesterone levels are measured. Low serum progesterone levels are an indication that ovulation is inhibited by hyperimmunizing the rabbits with GDF-9 vaccines.

Histologic evaluation of the ovaries from GDF-9 vaccinated rabbits will show that the ovaries are intact. A mild mixed focal inflammatory infiltrate within the medulla of each ovary is observed. The ovaries will be devoid of mature oocytes and follicles. The cortex will appear normal. Histologic examination of the fallopian tubes and uterus will reveal no abnormalities or inflammation.

2. Passive Immunization

Passive immunization is a second approach to developing a GDF-9 specific contraceptive. Using this approach, antibodies are produced which have high affinity of GDF-9. The antibodies are purified by conventional affinity chromatography methods (e.g., protein-A). In this instance, either a immunoglobulin enriched serum fraction (gamma globulin) or a monoclonal antibody generated against GDF-9 is suitable. In these instances, the anti-GDF-9 gamma globulin or the monoclonal antibody will have the property of specifically binding to GDF-9. The antibody may either block the binding of the GDF-9 to its natural receptor or function to increase the rate of clearance of the GDF-9 from the ovary. In either case, the objective is to allow the antibody to contact the GDF-9 produced by the oocytes and prevent it from contacting its natural receptor.

For use in humans, the preferred antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody. Production of murine monoelonal antibodies is well established and familiar to those skilled in the art. Briefly, mice are immunized with GDF-9 homodimer, monomer or a fragment (Table 1). Once a humoral response is produced, the spleen or lymph node cells are removed and fused with a mouse mycloma cell, typically SP2/0 or P-2 cells. The fused cells (hybridoma) are cultured in a selection media, cloned and subcloned to generate an immortal cell line producing an antibody to GDF-9.

Due to its immunogenicity, the murine monoclonal antibody is not most desirable to use as a therapeutic for human use. The antigenicity of a murine antibody can be reduced by replacing the murine immunoglobulin heavy and light chain constant domains with the equivalent human antibody domains (chimeric antibody). The chimeric antibody can be further "humanized" by replacing intervening structural murine sequences within the antibodies hypervariable regions. This is referred to as a "fully humanized" antibody. The fully humanized antibody is preferred since this antibody can be used repeatedly in a human subject without causing an immune response to the antibody.

3. GDF-9 Receptor Antagonist

A third approach to suppressing GDF-9 function is to develop a receptor antagonist. The approach is to first identify cell surface receptor(s) which are responsible for signal transduction in the ovary. These receptors are likely to be expressed on the egg or associated accessory cells (e.g., granulosa or thecal). Once a target cell population is identified, a receptor binding assay is used to identify peptides or small organic compounds which will bind to the GDF-9 receptor and prevent the GDF-9 from binding to its receptor. The use of the receptor antagonist has the advantage of being a specific inhibitor of GDF-9 induction of oocyte maturation and the potential to be a long-term, reversible therapeutic.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the presently preferred embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims.

SUMMARY OF SEQUENCES

Sequence ID No.1 is the nucleotide sequence for the primer, SJL160, for GDF-9 (page 24, lines 15 and 16);

Sequence ID No. 2 is the nucleotide sequence for the primer, SJL153, for GDF-9 (page 24, lines 17 and 18);

Sequence ID No. 3 is the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence for GDF-9 (FIG. 2);

Sequence ID No. 4 is the deduced amino acid sequence for GDF-9 (FIG. 2);

Sequence ID No. 5 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of GDF-3 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 6 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of GDF-9 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 7 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of GDF-1 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 8 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Vg-1 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 9 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of Vgr-1 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 10 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of OP-1 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 11 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of BMP-5 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 12 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of 60A (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 13 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of BMP-2 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 14 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of BMP-4 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 15 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of DPP (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 16 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of BMP-3 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 17 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of MIS (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 18 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of inhibin (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 19 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of βA (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 20 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of βB (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 21 is the amino acid sequence of the C-termninus of TGF-β1 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No.22 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of TGF-β2 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 23 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of TGF-β3 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No. 24 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of TGF-β4 (FIG. 3);

Sequence ID No.25 is the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of TGF-β5 (FIG. 3); and

Sequence ID No. 26 is the amino acid sequence of human GDF-9 (FIG. 6).

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                 - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                     -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 26                                             - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 35 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                        -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: SJL160                                                    -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..35                                                  #/note= "Where "B" occurs, B =N:                                                              inosine"                                                        -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                  #       35         ANVA NTGGRTBRTB KCBCC                                       - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 33 base                                                            (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                        -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: SJL153                                                    -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..33                                                  -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                  #         33       CADC YNBTDGYDRY CAT                                         - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1712 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                        -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: GDF-9                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 29..1351                                               -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                  #AAC TTC CTG        52T TCCAAGTC ATG GCA CTT CCC AGC                           #Pro Ser Asn Phe Leua Leu                                                      #            5  1                                                              - TTG GGG GTT TGC TGC TTT GCC TGG CTG TGT TT - #T CTT AGT AGC CTT AGC           100                                                                           Leu Gly Val Cys Cys Phe Ala Trp Leu Cys Ph - #e Leu Ser Ser Leu Ser            #     20                                                                       - TCT CAG GCT TCT ACT GAA GAA TCC CAG AGT GG - #A GCC AGT GAA AAT GTG           148                                                                           Ser Gln Ala Ser Thr Glu Glu Ser Gln Ser Gl - #y Ala Ser Glu Asn Val            # 40                                                                           - GAG TCT GAG GCA GAC CCC TGG TCC TTG CTG CT - #G CCT GTA GAT GGG ACT           196                                                                           Glu Ser Glu Ala Asp Pro Trp Ser Leu Leu Le - #u Pro Val Asp Gly Thr            #                 55                                                           - GAC AGG TCT GGC CTC TTG CCC CCC CTC TTT AA - #G GTT CTA TCT GAT AGG           244                                                                           Asp Arg Ser Gly Leu Leu Pro Pro Leu Phe Ly - #s Val Leu Ser Asp Arg            #             70                                                               - CGA GGT GAG ACC CCT AAG CTG CAG CCT GAC TC - #C AGA GCA CTC TAC TAC           292                                                                           Arg Gly Glu Thr Pro Lys Leu Gln Pro Asp Se - #r Arg Ala Leu Tyr Tyr            #         85                                                                   - ATG AAA AAG CTC TAT AAG ACG TAT GCT ACC AA - #A GAG GGG GTT CCC AAA           340                                                                           Met Lys Lys Leu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr Ala Thr Ly - #s Glu Gly Val Pro Lys            #    100                                                                       - CCC AGC AGA AGT CAC CTC TAC AAT ACC GTC CG - #G CTC TTC AGT CCC TGT           388                                                                           Pro Ser Arg Ser His Leu Tyr Asn Thr Val Ar - #g Leu Phe Ser Pro Cys            105                 1 - #10                 1 - #15                 1 -        #20                                                                            - GCC CAG CAA GAG CAG GCA CCC AGC AAC CAG GT - #G ACA GGA CCG CTG CCG           436                                                                           Ala Gln Gln Glu Gln Ala Pro Ser Asn Gln Va - #l Thr Gly Pro Leu Pro            #               135                                                            - ATG GTG GAC CTG CTG TTT AAC CTG GAC CGG GT - #G ACT GCC ATG GAA CAC           484                                                                           Met Val Asp Leu Leu Phe Asn Leu Asp Arg Va - #l Thr Ala Met Glu His            #           150                                                                - TTG CTC AAA TCG GTC TTG CTA TAC ACT CTG AA - #C AAC TCT GCC TCT TCC           532                                                                           Leu Leu Lys Ser Val Leu Leu Tyr Thr Leu As - #n Asn Ser Ala Ser Ser            #       165                                                                    - TCC TCC ACT GTG ACC TGT ATG TGT GAC CTT GT - #G GTA AAG GAG GCC ATG           580                                                                           Ser Ser Thr Val Thr Cys Met Cys Asp Leu Va - #l Val Lys Glu Ala Met            #   180                                                                        - TCT TCT GGC AGG GCA CCC CCA AGA GCA CCG TA - #C TCA TTC ACC CTG AAG           628                                                                           Ser Ser Gly Arg Ala Pro Pro Arg Ala Pro Ty - #r Ser Phe Thr Leu Lys            185                 1 - #90                 1 - #95                 2 -        #00                                                                            - AAA CAC AGA TGG ATT GAG ATT GAT GTG ACC TC - #C CTC CTT CAG CCC CTA           676                                                                           Lys His Arg Trp Ile Glu Ile Asp Val Thr Se - #r Leu Leu Gln Pro Leu            #               215                                                            - GTG ACC TCC AGC GAG AGG AGC ATT CAC CTG TC - #T GTC AAT TTT ACA TGC           724                                                                           Val Thr Ser Ser Glu Arg Ser Ile His Leu Se - #r Val Asn Phe Thr Cys            #           230                                                                - ACA AAA GAC CAG GTG CCA GAG GAC GGA GTG TT - #T AGC ATG CCT CTC TCA           772                                                                           Thr Lys Asp Gln Val Pro Glu Asp Gly Val Ph - #e Ser Met Pro Leu Ser            #       245                                                                    - GTG CCT CCT TCC CTC ATC TTG TAT CTC AAC GA - #C ACA AGC ACC CAG GCC           820                                                                           Val Pro Pro Ser Leu Ile Leu Tyr Leu Asn As - #p Thr Ser Thr Gln Ala            #   260                                                                        - TAC CAC TCT TGG CAG TCT CTT CAG TCC ACC TG - #G AGG CCT TTA CAG CAT           868                                                                           Tyr His Ser Trp Gln Ser Leu Gln Ser Thr Tr - #p Arg Pro Leu Gln His            265                 2 - #70                 2 - #75                 2 -        #80                                                                            - CCC GGC CAG GCC GGT GTG GCT GCC CGT CCC GT - #G AAA GAG GAA GCT ACT           916                                                                           Pro Gly Gln Ala Gly Val Ala Ala Arg Pro Va - #l Lys Glu Glu Ala Thr            #               295                                                            - GAG GTG GAA AGA TCT CCC CGG CGC CGT CGA GG - #G CAG AAA GCC ATC CGC           964                                                                           Glu Val Glu Arg Ser Pro Arg Arg Arg Arg Gl - #y Gln Lys Ala Ile Arg            #           310                                                                - TCC GAA GCG AAG GGG CCA CTT CTT ACA GCA TC - #C TTC AAC CTC AGC GAA          1012                                                                           Ser Glu Ala Lys Gly Pro Leu Leu Thr Ala Se - #r Phe Asn Leu Ser Glu            #       325                                                                    - TAC TTC AAA CAG TTT CTT TTC CCC CAA AAC GA - #G TGT GAA CTC CAT GAC          1060                                                                           Tyr Phe Lys Gln Phe Leu Phe Pro Gln Asn Gl - #u Cys Glu Leu His Asp            #   340                                                                        - TTC AGA CTG AGT TTT AGT CAG CTC AAA TGG GA - #C AAC TGG ATC GTG GCC          1108                                                                           Phe Arg Leu Ser Phe Ser Gln Leu Lys Trp As - #p Asn Trp Ile Val Ala            345                 3 - #50                 3 - #55                 3 -        #60                                                                            - CCG CAC AGG TAC AAC CCT AGG TAC TGT AAA GG - #G GAC TGT CCT AGG GCG          1156                                                                           Pro His Arg Tyr Asn Pro Arg Tyr Cys Lys Gl - #y Asp Cys Pro Arg Ala            #               375                                                            - GTC AGG CAT CGG TAT GGC TCT CCT GTG CAC AC - #C ATG GTC CAG AAT ATA          1204                                                                           Val Arg His Arg Tyr Gly Ser Pro Val His Th - #r Met Val Gln Asn Ile            #           390                                                                - ATC TAT GAG AAG CTG GAC CCT TCA GTG CCA AG - #G CCT TCG TGT GTG CCG          1252                                                                           Ile Tyr Glu Lys Leu Asp Pro Ser Val Pro Ar - #g Pro Ser Cys Val Pro            #       405                                                                    - GGC AAG TAC AGC CCC CTG AGT GTG TTG ACC AT - #T GAA CCC GAC GGC TCC          1300                                                                           Gly Lys Tyr Ser Pro Leu Ser Val Leu Thr Il - #e Glu Pro Asp Gly Ser            #   420                                                                        - ATC GCT TAC AAA GAG TAC GAA GAC ATG ATA GC - #T ACG AGG TGC ACC TGT          1348                                                                           Ile Ala Tyr Lys Glu Tyr Glu Asp Met Ile Al - #a Thr Arg Cys Thr Cys            425                 4 - #30                 4 - #35                 4 -        #40                                                                            - CGT TAGCATGGGG GCCACTTCAA CAAGCCTGCC TGGCAGAGCA ATGCTGTGG - #G               1401                                                                           Arg                                                                            - CCTTAGAGTG CCTGGGCAGA GAGCTTCCTG TGACCAGTCT CTCCGTGCTG CT - #CAGTGCAC        1461                                                                           - ACTGTGTGAG CGGGGGAAGT GTGTGTGTGT GGATGAGCAC ATCGAGTGCA GT - #GTCCGTAG        1521                                                                           - GTGTAAAGGG CACACTCACT GGTCGTTGCC ATAAACCAAG TGAAATGTAA CT - #CATTTGGA        1581                                                                           - GAGCTCTTTC TCCCCACGAG TGTAGTTTTC AGTGGACAGA TTTGTTAGCA TA - #AGTCTCGA        1641                                                                           - GTAGAATGTA GCTGTGAACA TGTCAGAGTG CTGTGGTTTT ATGTGACGGA AG - #AATAAACT        1701                                                                           #     1712                                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 441 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                  - Met Ala Leu Pro Ser Asn Phe Leu Leu Gly Va - #l Cys Cys Phe Ala Trp          #                 15                                                           - Leu Cys Phe Leu Ser Ser Leu Ser Ser Gln Al - #a Ser Thr Glu Glu Ser          #             30                                                               - Gln Ser Gly Ala Ser Glu Asn Val Glu Ser Gl - #u Ala Asp Pro Trp Ser          #         45                                                                   - Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Asp Gly Thr Asp Arg Se - #r Gly Leu Leu Pro Pro          #     60                                                                       - Leu Phe Lys Val Leu Ser Asp Arg Arg Gly Gl - #u Thr Pro Lys Leu Gln          # 80                                                                           - Pro Asp Ser Arg Ala Leu Tyr Tyr Met Lys Ly - #s Leu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr          #                 95                                                           - Ala Thr Lys Glu Gly Val Pro Lys Pro Ser Ar - #g Ser His Leu Tyr Asn          #           110                                                                - Thr Val Arg Leu Phe Ser Pro Cys Ala Gln Gl - #n Glu Gln Ala Pro Ser          #       125                                                                    - Asn Gln Val Thr Gly Pro Leu Pro Met Val As - #p Leu Leu Phe Asn Leu          #   140                                                                        - Asp Arg Val Thr Ala Met Glu His Leu Leu Ly - #s Ser Val Leu Leu Tyr          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Thr Leu Asn Asn Ser Ala Ser Ser Ser Ser Th - #r Val Thr Cys Met Cys          #               175                                                            - Asp Leu Val Val Lys Glu Ala Met Ser Ser Gl - #y Arg Ala Pro Pro Arg          #           190                                                                - Ala Pro Tyr Ser Phe Thr Leu Lys Lys His Ar - #g Trp Ile Glu Ile Asp          #       205                                                                    - Val Thr Ser Leu Leu Gln Pro Leu Val Thr Se - #r Ser Glu Arg Ser Ile          #   220                                                                        - His Leu Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Cys Thr Lys As - #p Gln Val Pro Glu Asp          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Gly Val Phe Ser Met Pro Leu Ser Val Pro Pr - #o Ser Leu Ile Leu Tyr          #               255                                                            - Leu Asn Asp Thr Ser Thr Gln Ala Tyr His Se - #r Trp Gln Ser Leu Gln          #           270                                                                - Ser Thr Trp Arg Pro Leu Gln His Pro Gly Gl - #n Ala Gly Val Ala Ala          #       285                                                                    - Arg Pro Val Lys Glu Glu Ala Thr Glu Val Gl - #u Arg Ser Pro Arg Arg          #   300                                                                        - Arg Arg Gly Gln Lys Ala Ile Arg Ser Glu Al - #a Lys Gly Pro Leu Leu          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Thr Ala Ser Phe Asn Leu Ser Glu Tyr Phe Ly - #s Gln Phe Leu Phe Pro          #               335                                                            - Gln Asn Glu Cys Glu Leu His Asp Phe Arg Le - #u Ser Phe Ser Gln Leu          #           350                                                                - Lys Trp Asp Asn Trp Ile Val Ala Pro His Ar - #g Tyr Asn Pro Arg Tyr          #       365                                                                    - Cys Lys Gly Asp Cys Pro Arg Ala Val Arg Hi - #s Arg Tyr Gly Ser Pro          #   380                                                                        - Val His Thr Met Val Gln Asn Ile Ile Tyr Gl - #u Lys Leu Asp Pro Ser          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Val Pro Arg Pro Ser Cys Val Pro Gly Lys Ty - #r Ser Pro Leu Ser Val          #               415                                                            - Leu Thr Ile Glu Pro Asp Gly Ser Ile Ala Ty - #r Lys Glu Tyr Glu Asp          #           430                                                                - Met Ile Ala Thr Arg Cys Thr Cys Arg                                          #       440                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 117 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: GDF-3                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..117                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                  - Lys Arg Arg Ala Ala Ile Ser Val Pro Lys Gl - #y Phe Cys Arg Asn Phe          #                15                                                            - Cys His Arg His Gln Leu Phe Ile Asn Phe Gl - #n Asp Leu Gly Trp His          #            30                                                                - Lys Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Lys Gly Phe Met Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys His Gly          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Pro Phe Ser Met Thr Thr Tyr Leu As - #n Ser Ser Asn Tyr Ala          #    60                                                                        - Phe Met Gln Ala Leu Met His Met Ala Asp Pr - #o Lys Val Pro Lys Ala          #80                                                                            - Val Cys Val Pro Thr Lys Leu Ser Pro Ile Se - #r Met Leu Tyr Gln Asp          #                95                                                            - Ser Asp Lys Asn Val Ile Leu Arg His Tyr Gl - #u Asp Met Val Val Asp          #           110                                                                - Glu Cys Gly Cys Gly                                                                  115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 118 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: GDF-9                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..118                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                  - Phe Asn Leu Ser Glu Tyr Phe Lys Gln Phe Le - #u Phe Pro Gln Asn Glu          #                15                                                            - Cys Glu Leu His Asp Phe Arg Leu Ser Phe Se - #r Gln Leu Lys Trp Asp          #            30                                                                - Asn Trp Ile Val Ala Pro His Arg Tyr Asn Pr - #o Arg Tyr Cys Lys Gly          #        45                                                                    - Asp Cys Pro Arg Ala Val Arg His Arg Tyr Gl - #y Ser Pro Val His Thr          #    60                                                                        - Met Val Gln Asn Ile Ile Tyr Glu Lys Leu As - #p Pro Ser Val Pro Arg          #80                                                                            - Pro Ser Cys Val Pro Gly Lys Tyr Ser Pro Le - #u Ser Val Leu Thr Ile          #                95                                                            - Glu Pro Asp Gly Ser Ile Ala Tyr Lys Glu Ty - #r Glu Asp Met Ile Ala          #           110                                                                - Thr Arg Cys Thr Cys Arg                                                              115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 122 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: GDF-1                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..122                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                  - Pro Arg Arg Asp Ala Glu Pro Val Leu Gly Gl - #y Gly Pro Gly Gly Ala          #                15                                                            - Cys Arg Ala Arg Arg Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Ar - #g Glu Val Gly Trp His          #            30                                                                - Arg Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Arg Gly Phe Leu Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Gln Gly          #        45                                                                    - Gln Cys Ala Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Ser Gly Se - #r Gly Gly Pro Pro Ala          #    60                                                                        - Leu Asn His Ala Val Leu Arg Ala Leu Met Hi - #s Ala Ala Ala Pro Gly          #80                                                                            - Ala Ala Asp Leu Pro Cys Cys Val Pro Ala Ar - #g Leu Ser Pro Ile Ser          #                95                                                            - Val Leu Phe Phe Asp Asn Ser Asp Asn Val Va - #l Leu Arg Gln Tyr Glu          #           110                                                                - Asp Met Val Val Asp Glu Cys Gly Cys Arg                                      #       120                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 118 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: Vg-1                                                      -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..118                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                  - Arg Arg Lys Arg Ser Tyr Ser Lys Leu Pro Ph - #e Thr Ala Ser Asn Ile          #                15                                                            - Cys Lys Lys Arg His Leu Tyr Val Glu Phe Ly - #s Asp Val Gly Trp Gln          #            30                                                                - Asn Trp Val Ile Ala Pro Gln Gly Tyr Met Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Tyr Gly          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Pro Tyr Pro Leu Thr Glu Ile Leu As - #n Gly Ser Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Ile Leu Gln Thr Leu Val His Ser Ile Glu Pr - #o Glu Asp Ile Pro Leu          #80                                                                            - Pro Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Lys Met Ser Pro Il - #e Ser Met Leu Phe Tyr          #                95                                                            - Asp Asn Asn Asp Asn Val Val Leu Arg His Ty - #r Glu Asn Met Ala Val          #           110                                                                - Asp Glu Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                              115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 118 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: Vgr-1                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..118                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                  - Arg Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Asp Tyr Asn Ser Se - #r Glu Leu Lys Thr Ala          #                15                                                            - Cys Arg Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Gl - #n Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #            30                                                                - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Asp Gly          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Met Asn Pr - #o Glu Tyr Val Pro Lys          #80                                                                            - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #                95                                                            - Asp Asp Asn Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #           110                                                                - Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                              115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 118 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: OP-1                                                      -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..118                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                                 - Arg Met Ala Asn Val Ala Glu Asn Ser Ser Se - #r Asp Gln Arg Gln Ala          #                15                                                            - Cys Lys Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Ar - #g Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #            30                                                                - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Tyr Tyr Cys Glu Gly          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Ala Phe Pro Leu Asn Ser Tyr Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Phe Ile Asn Pr - #o Glu Thr Val Pro Lys          #80                                                                            - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Gln Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #                95                                                            - Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #           110                                                                - Arg Ala Cys Gly Cys His                                                              115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 118 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: BMP-5                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..118                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                                 - Arg Met Ser Ser Val Gly Asp Tyr Asn Thr Se - #r Glu Gln Lys Gln Ala          #                15                                                            - Cys Lys Lys His Glu Leu Tyr Val Ser Phe Ar - #g Asp Leu Gly Trp Gln          #            30                                                                - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Ala Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys Asp Gly          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Ser Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Met Phe Pr - #o Asp His Val Pro Lys          #80                                                                            - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Lys Leu Asn Ala Il - #e Ser Val Leu Tyr Phe          #                95                                                            - Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Val Ile Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Val Val          #           110                                                                - Arg Ser Cys Gly Cys His                                                              115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 118 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: 60A                                                       -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..118                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                                 - Ser Pro Asn Asn Val Pro Leu Leu Glu Pro Me - #t Glu Ser Thr Arg Ser          #                15                                                            - Cys Gln Met Gln Thr Leu Tyr Ile Asp Phe Ly - #s Asp Leu Gly Trp His          #            30                                                                - Asp Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Glu Gly Tyr Gly Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys Ser Gly          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Asn Phe Pro Leu Asn Ala His Met As - #n Ala Thr Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val His Leu Leu Glu Pr - #o Lys Lys Val Pro Lys          #80                                                                            - Pro Cys Cys Ala Pro Thr Arg Leu Gly Ala Le - #u Pro Val Leu Tyr His          #                95                                                            - Leu Asn Asp Glu Asn Val Asn Leu Lys Lys Ty - #r Arg Asn Met Ile Val          #           110                                                                - Lys Ser Cys Gly Cys His                                                              115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 117 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: BMP-2                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..117                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                                 - Glu Lys Arg Gln Ala Lys His Lys Gln Arg Ly - #s Arg Leu Lys Ser Ser          #                15                                                            - Cys Lys Arg His Pro Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asn          #            30                                                                - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr His Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys His Gly          #        45                                                                    - Glu Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Leu As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Ser Val Asn Se - #r Lys Ile Pro Lys Ala          #80                                                                            - Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Glu Leu Ser Ala Ile Se - #r Met Leu Tyr Leu Asp          #                95                                                            - Glu Asn Glu Lys Val Val Leu Lys Asn Tyr Gl - #n Asp Met Val Val Glu          #           110                                                                - Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                  115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 117 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: BMP-4                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..117                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                                 - Arg Ser Pro Lys His His Ser Gln Arg Ala Ar - #g Lys Lys Asn Lys Asn          #                15                                                            - Cys Arg Arg His Ser Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asn          #            30                                                                - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gln Al - #a Phe Tyr Cys His Gly          #        45                                                                    - Asp Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Leu As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Ile Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Ser Val Asn Se - #r Ser Ile Pro Lys Ala          #80                                                                            - Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Glu Leu Ser Ala Ile Se - #r Met Leu Tyr Leu Asp          #                95                                                            - Glu Tyr Asp Lys Val Val Leu Lys Asn Tyr Gl - #n Glu Met Val Val Glu          #           110                                                                - Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                                  115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 118 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: DPP                                                       -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..118                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                                 - Lys Arg His Ala Arg Arg Pro Thr Arg Arg Ly - #s Asn His Asp Asp Thr          #                15                                                            - Cys Arg Arg His Ser Leu Tyr Val Asp Phe Se - #r Asp Val Gly Trp Asp          #            30                                                                - Asp Trp Ile Val Ala Pro Leu Gly Tyr Asp Al - #a Tyr Tyr Cys His Gly          #        45                                                                    - Lys Cys Pro Phe Pro Leu Ala Asp His Phe As - #n Ser Thr Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Val Val Gln Thr Leu Val Asn Asn Met Asn Pr - #o Gly Lys Val Pro Lys          #80                                                                            - Ala Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Gln Leu Asp Ser Va - #l Ala Met Leu Tyr Leu          #                95                                                            - Asn Asp Gln Ser Thr Val Val Leu Lys Asn Ty - #r Gln Glu Met Thr Val          #           110                                                                - Val Gly Cys Gly Cys Arg                                                              115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 119 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: BMP-3                                                     -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..119                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                                 - Gln Thr Leu Lys Lys Ala Arg Arg Lys Gln Tr - #p Ile Glu Pro Arg Asn          #                15                                                            - Cys Ala Arg Arg Tyr Leu Lys Val Asp Phe Al - #a Asp Ile Gly Trp Ser          #            30                                                                - Glu Trp Ile Ile Ser Pro Lys Ser Phe Asp Al - #a Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Gly          #        45                                                                    - Ala Cys Gln Phe Pro Met Pro Lys Ser Leu Ly - #s Pro Ser Asn His Ala          #    60                                                                        - Thr Ile Gln Ser Ile Val Arg Ala Val Gly Va - #l Val Pro Gly Ile Pro          #80                                                                            - Glu Pro Cys Cys Val Pro Glu Lys Met Ser Se - #r Leu Ser Ile Leu Phe          #                95                                                            - Phe Asp Glu Asn Lys Asn Val Val Leu Lys Va - #l Tyr Pro Asn Met Thr          #           110                                                                - Val Glu Ser Cys Ala Cys Arg                                                          115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 115 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: MIS                                                       -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..115                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                                 - Pro Gly Arg Ala Gln Arg Ser Ala Gly Ala Th - #r Ala Ala Asp Gly Pro          #                15                                                            - Cys Ala Leu Arg Glu Leu Ser Val Asp Leu Ar - #g Ala Glu Arg Ser Val          #            30                                                                - Leu Ile Pro Glu Thr Tyr Gln Ala Asn Asn Cy - #s Gln Gly Val Cys Gly          #        45                                                                    - Trp Pro Gln Ser Asp Arg Asn Pro Arg Tyr Gl - #y Asn His Val Val Leu          #    60                                                                        - Leu Leu Lys Met Gln Ala Arg Gly Ala Ala Le - #u Ala Arg Pro Pro Cys          #80                                                                            - Cys Val Pro Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gly Lys Leu Le - #u Ile Ser Leu Ser Glu          #                95                                                            - Glu Arg Ile Ser Ala His His Val Pro Asn Me - #t Val Ala Thr Glu Cys          #           110                                                                - Gly Cys Arg                                                                          115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 121 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: Inhibin alph - #a                                         -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..121                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                                 - Leu Arg Leu Leu Gln Arg Pro Pro Glu Glu Pr - #o Ala Ala His Ala Asn          #                15                                                            - Cys His Arg Val Ala Leu Asn Ile Ser Phe Gl - #n Glu Leu Gly Trp Glu          #            30                                                                - Arg Trp Ile Val Tyr Pro Pro Ser Phe Ile Ph - #e His Tyr Cys His Gly          #        45                                                                    - Gly Cys Gly Leu His Ile Pro Pro Asn Leu Se - #r Leu Pro Val Pro Gly          #    60                                                                        - Ala Pro Pro Thr Pro Ala Gln Pro Tyr Ser Le - #u Leu Pro Gly Ala Gln          #80                                                                            - Pro Cys Cys Ala Ala Leu Pro Gly Thr Met Ar - #g Pro Leu His Val Arg          #                95                                                            - Thr Thr Ser Asp Gly Gly Tyr Ser Phe Lys Ty - #r Glu Thr Val Pro Asn          #           110                                                                - Leu Leu Thr Gln His Cys Ala Cys Ile                                          #       120                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 121 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: Inhibin beta - #A                                         -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..121                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                                 - Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Gly Leu Glu Cys Asp Gl - #y Lys Val Asn Ile Cys          #                15                                                            - Cys Lys Lys Gln Phe Phe Val Ser Phe Lys As - #p Ile Gly Trp Asn Asp          #            30                                                                - Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Ser Gly Tyr His Ala As - #n Tyr Cys Glu Gly Glu          #        45                                                                    - Cys Pro Ser His Ile Ala Gly Thr Ser Gly Se - #r Ser Leu Ser Phe His          #    60                                                                        - Ser Thr Val Ile Asn His Tyr Arg Met Arg Gl - #y His Ser Pro Phe Ala          #80                                                                            - Asn Leu Lys Ser Cys Cys Val Pro Thr Lys Le - #u Arg Pro Met Ser Met          #                95                                                            - Leu Tyr Tyr Asp Asp Gly Gln Asn Ile Ile Ly - #s Lys Asp Ile Gln Asn          #           110                                                                - Met Ile Val Glu Glu Cys Gly Cys Ser                                          #       120                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 120 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: Inhibin beta - #B                                         -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..120                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                                 - Arg Ile Arg Lys Arg Gly Leu Glu Cys Asp Gl - #y Arg Thr Asn Leu Cys          #                15                                                            - Cys Arg Gln Gln Phe Phe Ile Asp Phe Arg Le - #u Ile Gly Trp Asn Asp          #            30                                                                - Trp Ile Ile Ala Pro Thr Gly Tyr Tyr Gly As - #n Tyr Cys Glu Gly Ser          #        45                                                                    - Cys Pro Ala Tyr Leu Ala Gly Val Pro Gly Se - #r Ala Ser Ser Phe His          #    60                                                                        - Thr Ala Val Val Asn Gln Tyr Arg Met Arg Gl - #y Leu Asn Pro Gly Thr          #80                                                                            - Val Asn Ser Cys Cys Ile Pro Thr Lys Leu Se - #r Thr Met Ser Met Leu          #                95                                                            - Tyr Phe Asp Asp Glu Tyr Asn Ile Val Lys Ar - #g Asp Val Pro Asn Met          #           110                                                                - Ile Val Glu Glu Cys Gly Cys Ala                                              #       120                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 114 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: TGF-beta1                                                 -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..114                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:                                 - Arg Arg Ala Leu Asp Thr Asn Tyr Cys Phe Se - #r Ser Thr Glu Lys Asn          #                15                                                            - Cys Cys Val Arg Gln Leu Tyr Ile Asp Phe Ar - #g Lys Asp Leu Gly Trp          #            30                                                                - Lys Trp Ile His Glu Pro Lys Gly Tyr His Al - #a Asn Phe Cys Leu Gly          #        45                                                                    - Pro Cys Pro Tyr Ile Trp Ser Leu Asp Thr Gl - #n Tyr Ser Lys Val Leu          #    60                                                                        - Ala Leu Tyr Asn Gln His Asn Pro Gly Ala Se - #r Ala Ala Pro Cys Cys          #80                                                                            - Val Pro Gln Ala Leu Glu Pro Leu Pro Ile Va - #l Tyr Tyr Val Gly Arg          #                95                                                            - Lys Pro Lys Val Glu Gln Leu Ser Asn Met Il - #e Val Arg Ser Cys Lys          #           110                                                                - Cys Ser                                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 114 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: TGF-beta2                                                 -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..114                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:                                 - Lys Arg Ala Leu Asp Ala Ala Tyr Cys Phe Ar - #g Asn Val Gln Asp Asn          #                15                                                            - Cys Cys Leu Arg Pro Leu Tyr Ile Asp Phe Ly - #s Arg Asp Leu Gly Trp          #            30                                                                - Lys Trp Ile His Glu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Asn Al - #a Asn Phe Cys Ala Gly          #        45                                                                    - Ala Cys Pro Tyr Leu Trp Ser Ser Asp Thr Gl - #n His Ser Arg Val Leu          #    60                                                                        - Ser Leu Tyr Asn Thr Ile Asn Pro Glu Ala Se - #r Ala Ser Pro Cys Cys          #80                                                                            - Val Ser Gln Asp Leu Glu Pro Leu Thr Ile Le - #u Tyr Tyr Ile Gly Lys          #                95                                                            - Thr Pro Lys Ile Glu Gln Leu Ser Asn Met Il - #e Val Lys Ser Cys Lys          #           110                                                                - Cys Ser                                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 114 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: TGF-beta3                                                 -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..114                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:                                 - Lys Arg Ala Leu Asp Thr Asn Tyr Cys Phe Ar - #g Asn Leu Glu Glu Asn          #                15                                                            - Cys Cys Val Arg Pro Leu Tyr Ile Asp Phe Ar - #g Gln Asp Leu Gly Trp          #            30                                                                - Lys Trp Val His Glu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Al - #a Asn Phe Cys Ser Gly          #        45                                                                    - Pro Cys Pro Tyr Leu Arg Ser Ala Asp Thr Th - #r His Ser Thr Val Leu          #    60                                                                        - Gly Leu Tyr Asn Thr Leu Asn Pro Glu Ala Se - #r Ala Ser Pro Cys Cys          #80                                                                            - Val Pro Gln Asp Leu Glu Pro Leu Thr Ile Le - #u Tyr Tyr Val Gly Arg          #                95                                                            - Thr Pro Lys Val Glu Gln Leu Ser Asn Met Va - #l Val Lys Ser Cys Lys          #           110                                                                - Cys Ser                                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 116 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: TGF-beta4                                                 -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..116                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:                                 - Arg Arg Asp Leu Asp Thr Asp Tyr Cys Phe Gl - #y Pro Gly Thr Asp Glu          #                15                                                            - Lys Asn Cys Cys Val Arg Pro Leu Tyr Ile As - #p Phe Arg Lys Asp Leu          #            30                                                                - Gln Trp Lys Trp Ile His Glu Pro Lys Gly Ty - #r Met Ala Asn Phe Cys          #        45                                                                    - Met Gly Pro Cys Pro Tyr Ile Trp Ser Ala As - #p Thr Gln Tyr Thr Lys          #    60                                                                        - Val Leu Ala Leu Tyr Asn Gln His Asn Pro Gl - #y Ala Ser Ala Ala Pro          #80                                                                            - Cys Cys Val Pro Gln Thr Leu Asp Pro Leu Pr - #o Ile Ile Tyr Tyr Val          #                95                                                            - Gly Arg Asn Val Arg Val Glu Gln Leu Ser As - #n Met Val Val Arg Ala          #           110                                                                - Cys Lys Cys Ser                                                                      115                                                                    - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 114 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: TGF-beta5                                                 -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..114                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:                                 - Lys Arg Gly Val Gly Gln Glu Tyr Cys Phe Gl - #y Asn Asn Gly Pro Asn          #                15                                                            - Cys Cys Val Lys Pro Leu Tyr Ile Asn Phe Ar - #g Lys Asp Leu Gly Trp          #            30                                                                - Lys Trp Ile His Glu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Glu Al - #a Asn Tyr Cys Leu Gly          #        45                                                                    - Asn Cys Pro Tyr Ile Trp Ser Met Asp Thr Gl - #n Tyr Ser Lys Val Leu          #    60                                                                        - Ser Leu Tyr Asn Gln Asn Asn Pro Gly Ala Se - #r Ile Ser Pro Cys Cys          #80                                                                            - Val Pro Asp Val Leu Glu Pro Leu Pro Ile Il - #e Tyr Tyr Val Gly Arg          #                95                                                            - Thr Ala Lys Val Glu Gln Leu Ser Asn Met Va - #l Val Arg Ser Cys Asn          #           110                                                                - Cys Ser                                                                      - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                            -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #acids    (A) LENGTH: 454 amino                                                          (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -    (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:                                                             (B) CLONE: HUMAN GDF-9                                               -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: Protein                                                          (B) LOCATION: 1..454                                                 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:                                 - Met Ala Arg Pro Asn Lys Phe Leu Leu Trp Ph - #e Cys Cys Phe Ala Trp          #                15                                                            - Leu Cys Phe Pro Ile Ser Leu Gly Ser Gln Al - #a Ser Gly Gly Glu Ala          #            30                                                                - Gln Ile Ala Ala Ser Ala Glu Leu Glu Ser Gl - #y Ala Met Pro Trp Ser          #        45                                                                    - Leu Leu Gln His Ile Asp Glu Arg Asp Arg Al - #a Gly Leu Leu Pro Ala          #    60                                                                        - Leu Phe Lys Val Leu Ser Val Gly Arg Gly Gl - #y Ser Pro Arg Leu Gln          #80                                                                            - Pro Asp Ser Arg Ala Leu His Tyr Met Lys Ly - #s Leu Tyr Lys Thr Tyr          #                95                                                            - Ala Thr Lys Glu Gly Ile Pro Lys Ser Asn Ar - #g Ser His Leu Tyr Asn          #           110                                                                - Thr Val Arg Leu Phe Thr Pro Cys Thr Arg Hi - #s Lys Gln Ala Pro Gly          #       125                                                                    - Asp Gln Val Thr Gly Ile Leu Pro Ser Val Gl - #u Leu Leu Phe Asn Leu          #   140                                                                        - Asp Arg Ile Thr Thr Val Glu His Leu Leu Ly - #s Ser Val Leu Leu Tyr          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Asn Ile Asn Asn Ser Val Ser Phe Ser Ser Al - #a Val Lys Cys Val Cys          #               175                                                            - Asn Leu Met Ile Lys Glu Pro Lys Ser Ser Se - #r Arg Thr Leu Gly Arg          #           190                                                                - Ala Pro Tyr Ser Phe Thr Phe Asn Ser Gln Ph - #e Glu Phe Gly Lys Lys          #       205                                                                    - His Lys Trp Ile Gln Ile Asp Val Thr Ser Le - #u Leu Gln Pro Leu Val          #   220                                                                        - Ala Ser Asn Lys Arg Ser Ile His Met Ser Il - #e Asn Phe Thr Cys Met          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Lys Asp Gln Leu Glu His Pro Ser Ala Gln As - #n Gly Leu Phe Asn Met          #               255                                                            - Thr Leu Val Ser Pro Ser Leu Ile Leu Tyr Le - #u Asn Asp Thr Ser Ala          #           270                                                                - Gln Ala Tyr His Ser Trp Tyr Ser Leu His Ty - #r Lys Arg Arg Pro Ser          #       285                                                                    - Gln Gly Pro Asp Gln Glu Arg Ser Leu Ser Al - #a Tyr Pro Val Gly Glu          #   300                                                                        - Glu Ala Ala Glu Asp Gly Arg Ser Ser His Hi - #s Arg His Arg Arg Gly          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Gln Glu Thr Val Ser Ser Glu Leu Lys Lys Pr - #o Leu Gly Pro Ala Ser          #               335                                                            - Phe Asn Leu Ser Glu Tyr Phe Arg Gln Phe Le - #u Leu Pro Gln Asn Glu          #           350                                                                - Cys Glu Leu His Asp Phe Arg Leu Ser Phe Se - #r Gln Leu Lys Trp Asp          #       365                                                                    - Asn Trp Ile Val Ala Pro His Arg Tyr Asn Pr - #o Arg Tyr Cys Lys Gly          #   380                                                                        - Asp Cys Pro Arg Ala Val Gly His Arg Tyr Gl - #y Ser Pro Val His Thr          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Met Val Gln Asn Ile Ile Tyr Glu Lys Leu As - #p Ser Ser Val Pro Arg          #               415                                                            - Pro Ser Cys Val Pro Ala Lys Tyr Ser Pro Le - #u Ser Val Leu Thr Ile          #           430                                                                - Glu Pro Asp Gly Ser Ile Ala Tyr Lys Glu Ty - #r Glu Asp Met Ile Ala          #       445                                                                    - Thr Lys Cys Thr Cys Arg                                                          450                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________ 

I claim:
 1. A method for inhibiting oocyte maturation by at least about 50% comprising contacting oocytes with an inhibiting effective amount of an antibody or fragment thereof that binds to a growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, whereby the antibody binds to GDF-9 and inhibits binding of GDF-9 to a GDF-9 receptor on an oocyte, thereby inhibiting oocyte maturation as compared to untreated oocytes.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody is administered to a subject in vivo.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody is administered in a dose range of about 0.1 μg to 100 mg/kg body weight. 